European equities, earlier boosted by surprise rate cuts and a higher start on Wall Street, slipped back at the end of the trading day, after the US Dow turned down and shed its 26 point lead in early trading.

Surprise interest rate cuts had added sparkle to share trading in London and Paris.

London stocks closed 6.9 points up at 3760.3, well down on the day's best, and the Paris bourse ended with a gain of 17.87 at 2133.22, again down from its best.