EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: European shares snapped a four-session rally as investors used a hint by the US Federal Reserve that more monetary tightening may be in the offing as an excuse to lock in recent market gains. A conservative growth forecast from French television group TF1 and high oil prices that kept Air France, British Airways and other fuel-hungry airlines under pressure also eroded recent market gains. But BHP Billiton bucked the weaker trend, surging 3.5 percent after the world's biggest miner said it more than doubled first-half net income.
Forecast-topping profits also buoyed news and information provider Reuters. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of pan-European blue chips was 0.6 percent weaker at 1,096.60, having retreated from earlier 32-month peaks as reports of a powerful explosion near in Iran also unsettled markets.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4,368.77 points, down 33.26 or 0.76 percent.
PARIS STOCK EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,009.02 points, down 21.43 or 0.53 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 5,870.8 points, down 46.1 or 0.78 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 24,740 points, down 165 or 0.66 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Stocks ended firmer but well below daily highs after several blue chips reported lacklustre earnings, tempering initial euphoria over BHP Billiton's higher-than-expected profit. Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index ended 6.9 points, or 0.17 percent, firmer at 4,151.7.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: Shares clawed to a fresh record peak, led by mining giant BHP Billiton after it posted surging profits. The All-share index closed at 13,181.08 points, up 91.8 or 0.70 percent. The All Gold index closed at 1,593.84 points, down 28.26 or 1.74 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 9,692.46 points, up 36.88 or 0.38 percent.