Frankfurt DAX: 2540.11 (+0.44)

German shares were mostly unchanged as the market generally shrugged off the expiration of futures and options contracts. The firm dollar supported the market throughout the day.

Paris CAC-40: 2083 (+6.67)

French shares were fractionally firmer, buoyed by a fragile technical rebound in a market dominated by a string of huge block trades. Prices moved in a narrow five-point range amid jitters after the blue chip CAC-40 index fell 1.12 per cent on Thursday.

Milan Mibtel: 10673 (+4)

Italian stocks closed slightly lower in very quiet trade with all eyes on a possible Bank of Italy rate cut. Equity traders said a rate cut of at least a half of 1 per cent had already been priced in.