LONDON - Weaker mining stocks helped drive Britain's top share index down 0.9 percent as metals prices fell on a firmer dollar, with banks also in the doldrums because of revived concerns over Greece's debt.

The FTSE 100 closed 49.36 points lower at 5,712.7, its steepest one-day decline in six weeks.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European equities fell to their lowest level in more than a week as persistent concerns about Greece's fiscal situation and disappointing US jobless claims data hurt market sentiment.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended 0.9 percent lower at 1,087.99 points - its biggest one-day decline in six weeks and the lowest close since March 31.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,171.83 points, down 50.58 or 0.81 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,978.46 points, down 48.51 or 1.2 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,791.01 points, down 52.48 or 0.77 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,355.68 points, down 309.84 or 1.31 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average fell 1.1 percent, with exporters such as Sony hit by profit-taking, while machinery makers lost ground after an unexpected fall in machine orders. The Nikkei fell 124.63 points to 11,168.2, logging its biggest one-day percentage fall in about six weeks, and pulling away from an 18-month intraday high of 11,408.17 hit on Monday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares lost ground, falling 0.28 percent, as fears of higher US interest rates prompted investors to take profit in property stocks after the market touched a near three-month high in the previous session. The Hang Seng Index ended down 61.73 points at 21,867.04.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Stocks fell 0.46 percent from an 18-month high after commodity prices dropped, but analysts saw it as only a temporary setback as corporate earnings growth prospects remained strong. The S&P/ASX 200 index lost 23 points to close at 4,937.9.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand reversed early losses against the dollar, tracking similar moves by the euro, but local stocks ended lower with banks among the worst performers.

The All-share index closed at 29,030.38 points, down 234.79 or 0.8 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,333.11 points, up 6.56 or 0.28 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 22,384.27 points, down 248.77 or 1.1 percent.