LONDON - Britain's top shares slid as investors shunned banks, miners and commodity stocks in favour of safe havens such as the dollar and yen, fearing Eurozone debt problems will snuff out economic recovery.

The FTSE 100 ended down 170.88 points, or 3.1 percent, at 5,262.85 having risen 0.9 percent to 5,433.73 on Thursday to hit its highest closing level since April 30.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares closed 3.5 percent lower, hammered by escalating concerns the tough euro-zone austerity measures would slow growth in the region.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed down 3.3 percent at 1,014.25 points.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,056.71 points, down 195.26 or 3.12 percent on the day, but up 341.62 on the week.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,560.36 points, down 171.18 or 4.59 percent, rising 167.62 points since last weekend.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,428.68 points, down 146.37 or 2.23 percent, but ahead on the week by 223.05.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 20,398.04 points, down 1,085.69 or 5.05 percent on the day, winning 897.29 since last Friday's close.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average lost 1.5 percent, hit by a disappointing profit outlook from Sony but the benchmark came off the day's lows as the yen weakened.

The Nikkei shed 158.04 points to 10,462.51. At one stage it had fallen 2.2 percent. For the week, it rose 0.9 percent, or 97.92 points.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares in Hong Kong fell 1.36 percent as weak overseas cues and a lack of catalysts kept investors sidelined.

The Hang Seng Index ended down 277.03 points at 20,145.43. During the week the index added 225.14 points.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian shares dropped 0.9 percent as investors dithered in the face of euro zone debt worries and after other Asian markets slipped.

The S&P/ASX 200 index was down 41.7 points at 4,611.1. Since May 7 the index has gained 130.4 points.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South African stocks slipped for the second straight day as global markets dropped on resurgent euro zone debt woes, while lower industrial metal prices and an on-going transport strike added to bearish sentiment.

The All-share index closed at 27,342.35 points, down 699.5 or 2.49 percent, rising 827.28 points over the week.