21 Apr 2009

European shares slip

7:16 am on 21 April 2009

European shares closed sharply lower on Monday. The banking sector was worst hit.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 3.5% lower at 786.12 points. The index is down 5.5% to date this year, but has risen by almost 22% since 9 March.

In Frankfurt, the DAX index ended at 4,486.3 points, down 190.54 or 4.07%.

In Paris, the CAC-40 index closed at 2,969.4 points, down 122.56 or 3.96%.

The Swiss market index closed at 5,065.18 points, down 127.45 or 2.45%.

In London, the FTSE 100 index closed 101.94 points lower, down 2.49%, at 3,990.86.