Europe consolidates after gains

Frankfurt DAX: 2655.73 (+3.88)

Frankfurt DAX: 2655.73 (+3.88)

German shares ended calm bourse dealing stable, remaining rangebound in later trade. Investor activity remains lacklustre after last week's record run and the upside seems limited. In postbourse trade, the DAX index stood at 2654.34.

Paris CAC-40: 2123.21 (-9.60)

French shares finished with tosses, with the market consolidating after recent strong gains. The market largely shrugged off a weaker-than-expected report from the US National Association of Purchasing Managers.

Stocks in the luxury goods sector rose, while oils and Air Liquide declined.

Milan Mibtel: 10074 (-102)

Italian shares reduced their losses in late trading after treasury minister, Mr Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, slammed French President Jacques Chirac over his remarks about Italy's capability to be a founder-member of the single currency. Traders said that the row had only a limited effect on the market.

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