Frankfurt Dax: 2638.45 (+11.41)

German shares ended bourse trade higher, although volumes remained generally limited, and they held on to their gains in postbourse electronic trading.

Paris CAC-40: 2081.50 (+14.41)

On the Paris bourse, stocks held their early gains to close up after a day of quiet trading ahead of the Fed decision. Brokers said a quarter-point rise in US interest rates was already priced into the market.

One Paris disappointment was Europe's largest steelmaker Usinor Sacilor, privatised last July. Its shares dropped after it announced that first-half profits, plunged 65 per cent.

Milan MIBTEL: 9559 (-78)

The Milan stock market was depressed in light trading, after having been closed all day Monday due to technical problems. The Mibtel index gave up 0.81 per cent or 78 points on the day to end at 9559. Olivetti was off 24.1 to 548 after sharp criticism of the group by the market watchdog chief in testinony to parliament.