Frankfurt DAX: 2,538.34 (+3.85)

German shares ended the day steadier yesterday, having trodden water as the US Labour Day holiday scuppered hopes of the IBIS DAX index finding new impetus to forge any meaningful gains.

Paris CAC-40: 1,976.98 (+6.37)

French stocks snapped a week long losing streak on Monday to finish higher, helped by firmer bond prices and bullish oil stocks.

Trading was extremely thin with volume totalling just 2.3 billion francs - around half the average - due to the closure of the US markets.

Milan Mibtel: 9,433 (-78)

Stocks ended nearly 1 per cent lower as traders sold in expectation of an autumn of economic slowdown and difficulties over privatisation and budget plans for the centre left government.

"There's no interest in the market, and there are fears about the state of the economy after GDP figures last week," one trader said. Gross domestic product data late last week showed the economy slowing more than forecast.