DAX: 2624.44 (-1.26)

German shares ended slightly lower in floor trading, but a touch higher in after-hours electronic trading with the market showing little inclination to move in either direction, despite data showing German money supply growth in August came in above forecasts and a new business climate index showed confidence improving slightly.

CAC-40: 2082.33 (+9.60)

French shares ended up but off their highs on profit-taking after the Bank of France shaved its intervention rate by 10 basis points to 3.25 per cent. The bank's gesture was widely expected after yesterday's 1997 budget presentation.

Mibtel: 9587 (+71)

Italian shares ended firmer in a session marked by a two-hour disruption due to a technical fault and the suspension of Olivetti shares for most of the day. Olivetti resumed trading only when trading limits were widened by 20 per cent.