DAX: 4118.22 (-75.47)

In Frankfurt, the German share market closed before the release of the US consumer prices data and the Wall Street opening. The DAX-30 share index finished 75.47 points or 1.8 per cent lower to 4,118.22.

The electronic IBIS DAX index, which trades after the official close, was down 18.7 points to 4149.92, well above an earlier low of 4114.06.

CAC-40: 2992.87 (+0.71)

French shares finished a touch firmer after a smaller-than-expected rise in US September inflation figures cheered markets, traders said.

The US consumer prices index showed a 0.2 per cent rise instead of the 0.3 per cent market consensus, which sharply pulled the CAC index up from a loss of just over 1 per cent before the data.

Mibtel: 15981 (-7)

Italian shares traded in a narrow range for most of the day, rallying briefly after US consumer prices rose a less-than-expected 0.2 per cent and then closing little changed.