LONDON - Britain's top share index fell 1.4 percent by the close as London's heavyweight mining, oil and banking stocks led the losers, as global markets retracted amid concerns over the pace of global recovery.

The FTSE 100 closed 68.96 points lower at 4,645.01, extending losses from Friday when the index shed 0.9 percent and marking its biggest one day percentage loss since July 2.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares fell to their lowest close in more than two weeks, as investors took profits, worrying that a recent rally was not supported by economic data.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares fell two percent to a close of 921.96 points, the lowest close since July 29.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,201.61 points, down 107.5 or 2.02 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,419.69 points, down 75.58 or 2.16 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,883.7 points, down 101.6 or 1.7 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 21,433.34 points, down 579.91 or 2.63 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average fell 3.1 percent in its biggest one-day fall in nearly five months, on profit-taking sparked by worries the surge in stocks had run ahead of economic recovery.

The Nikkei slid 328.72 points to 10,268.61, its lowest closing level in about two weeks, and down from a 10-month closing high of 10,597.33 on Friday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares posted their steepest drop in four-and-a half months to slide 3.6 percent, tracking a sharp drop on the Shanghai bourse and after US consumer confidence data darkened the global economic outlook.

The Hang Seng Index finished 755.68 points lower at 20,137.65, its lowest closing level since end-July.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian stocks fell 1.6 percent as investors turned cautious ahead of a rush of company earnings this week, while BlueScope Steel dropped on a weak earnings report and cautious outlook.

The S&P/ASX 200 index shed 72.6 points to 4,388.4 points, after rising 3.8 percent last week.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South African stocks tumbled three percent in their biggest one-day loss in two months after falling metal prices dragged miners down and banks slipped on concerns over the world economy.

The All-share index fell 741.65 points to 24,074.12 points.