Frankfurt DAX: 4202.37 (-29.03)Blue-chip shares limped to a weaker close yesterday evening, despite mounting a late recovery on the back of a firmer dollar. Profit-taking in leading stocks and the dollar's fall to below DM1.75 gave the DAX index an early blow from which it never fully recovered, dealers said.

Paris CAC-40: 3005.54 (+4.56)

French shares staged a late recovery on the back of a stronger US dollar. Analysts said the recovery was led by defence sector stocks; on Monday, the French government announced a strategic partnership, involving most of the major players, and creating a national defence group.

Milan Mibtel: 16039 (+358)

Italian shares raced ahead yesterday as the curtain came down on a government crisis and investors also took heart from remarks from the US Federal Reserve's chairman, Mr Alan Greenspan. Italian Prime Minister, Mr Romano Prodi and his centre-left government survived a political crisis after striking a budget deal with communist allies.