EUROPE STOCK EXCHANGE: European shares ended at a two-month low, hit by earnings concerns after Alcatel and France Telecom cut their outlook, while data added to worries the US economy might be weakening.
News that the US Securities and Exchange Commission had subpoenaed General Motors in an investigation into the world's largest automaker's accounts further pounded sentiment, overshadowing pleasing updates from GlaxoSmithKline and PPR.
Dutch routefinder firm TomTom also stood out, slumping 18 percent on fears of higher costs, higher inventories and price pressure, despite racing past analysts' forecasts with third-quarter sales and earnings gains.
FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE: The DAX index ended at 4,806.05 points, down 94.74 or 1.93 percent.
PARIS STOCK EXCHANGE: The CAC-40 index closed at 4,336.41 points, down 76.29 or 1.73 percent.
ZURICH STOCK EXCHANGE: The Swiss market index closed at 6,919.6 points, down 52.75 or 0.76 percent.
MILAN STOCK EXCHANGE: The All Share Mibtel index closed at 24,599 points, down 538 or 2.14 percent.
SYDNEY STOCK EXCHANGE: Australian shares broke a two-day run of higher finishes as concerns over the financial health of General Motors weighed on investor sentiment and overshadowed BHP Billiton's strong quarterly production report. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index fell 10.4 points, or 0.23 percent, to close at 4,433.0.
JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE: Gold miners Harmony, Gold Fields and AngloGold Ashanti led volatile South African stocks lower on concerns about future profits, while Kumba hit a new high. The All-share index closed at 16,249.06 points, down 193.62 or 1.18 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,037.72 points, down 110.6 or 5.15 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 11,804.6 points, down 123.07 or 1.03 percent.