LONDON - Britain's leading share index shed 0.56 percent, snapping a three-session rally with banks hit by some renewed sector caution, while oils and miners fell as a strengthening dollar weighed on metal prices. At the close, the FTSE 100 was 29.57 points lower at 5,285.77 after having gained 53.77 points on Monday to end at its highest level in over a week.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares slipped, after US data pointed to weaker manufacturing and higher inflation, and with Greek banks leading financials down on concerns over Athens's fiscal measures to cut deficits. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares fell 0.1 percent to a provisional close of 1,017.7 points. The decline followed three days of gains.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,811.34 points, up 9.08 or 0.16 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,834.09 points, up 3.65 or 0.1 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,439.4 points, up 6.31 or 0.1 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,025.98 points, down 31.61 or 0.14 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - The Nikkei average inched down 0.22 percent, with Advantest Corp. and other exporters hit by continued strength in the yen and as investors grew cautious ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting. In moderate trade, the benchmark Nikkei fell 22.2 points to 10,083.48.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's main stock index fell 1.23 percent, pressured by property and banking counters, on renewed fears that China's measures to cool its red-hot real estate market could extend to the financial sector. The Hang Seng Index fell 1.23 percent or 271.83 points to 21,813.92.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Stocks rose 0.42 percent to a one-week closing high, with miners and the energy sector leading the third straight session of gains after a big US takeover deal by Exxon Mobil Corp. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 19.5 points to 4,673.5, its third straight day of gains and the highest close since December 7.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's stock index ended in the red, dragged down by telecoms and platinum shares and as investors booked profits ahead of a holiday on Wednesday, while the rand slipped versus a stronger dollar. The All-share index closed at 27,098.45 points, down 142.3 or 0.52 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,503.7 points, down 3.22 or 0.13 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 21,187.71 points, down 105.75 or 0.5 percent.