Frankfurt - Dax 2728.32 (-11.51)

Shares ended thin bourse trade lower, taking a break after they reached record highs on Friday, with profit taking and dollar weakness pressuring the market. The DAX index of 30 leading shares closed floor dealings at a day's low of 2,728.32 points, down 11.51 points.

The IBIS DAX, which reflects all day computer trade in the DAX index, ended down 1.85 points at 2730.44.

Milan - Mibtel: 9951 (-26)

Italian shares trimmed losses to end just slightly lower yesterday after interest was sparked in telecom shares when Italy's Treasury minister, Mr Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, announced a plan to merger STET with Telecom Italia.

Telecom holding group, STET, shares rose sharply as its attractions were suddenly unveiled as it would lose its "holding company tag which has acted as a weight on its shares price, while Telecom Italia shares slide in response as its attraction as a "peer player" in the telecom sector took a knock.

The all share Mibtel index ended off 0.25 per cent at 9,951 while the Mib30 index finished down 0.43 per cent at 14,913.

The Paris share market was closed yesterday for a national holiday celebrating Armistice Day.