German shares tumbled nearly 1.6 per cent in late electronic trade after a sharp fall in the Dow Jones Industrial index scuppered positive sentiment on the German market. The market at one point rose more than half a per cent in afternoon trade.

Paris CAC-40: 3049.44 (-26.23) French shares ended lower, pushed down by weaker bond markets following the stronger-than-expected US jobs figures and the NAPM report.

Milan Mibtel: 14695 (+1) Italian shares closed largely steady after a volatile trading session following stronger than expected July jobs data in the US and the July NAPM survey which both hinted at inflationary pressure in the US economy.