Little activity in Frankfurt

Frankfurt Dax: 2552.36 (-2.80)

Frankfurt Dax: 2552.36 (-2.80)

German shares ended a lacklustre session almost unchanged from their closing levels on Friday. The listless mood, initiated during the floor session, continued in afternoon electronic trade, with the IBIS DAX index of electronically traded shares moving in a range of only 10 points or so.

Traders said sentiment was hit by lower German bonds, a still weak dollar, an unhelpfully low close on Wall Street on Friday and a bank holiday in London.

Paris CAC-40: 2020.42 (-0.40)

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French shares drifted to close slightly lower after trading in a narrow 12 point range all day. The market lacked strong new themes, after the French and German rate cuts of last week which briefly cheered equities.

Milan MIBTEL: 9600 (-120)

Italian shares closed mostly lower in unusually thin volume, but views differed on the impact on prices of a government debate over the timing of Italy's adherence to EMU.