European shares fall

European shares ended lower on Wednesday after fresh Libya violence pushed oil prices higher and fuelled economic growth fears, though analysts said equities were still attractive and had the potential to bounce back. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares provisionally finished 0.3 percent lower at 1,144.52 points after a choppy session, with volumes at 96.5 percent of the 90-day daily average.
Miners were among the biggest losers, with key base metals prices falling on worries demand for raw materials could be hit. The STOXX Europe 600 Basic Materials index fell 1.1 percent. "The underlying pace of growth is still strong, but the risk is that if oil prices keep on going up then obviously it will strangle economic growth," said Luc Van Hecka, chief economist at KBC Securities. Iberdrola Renovables surged 10.7 percent on news that parent Iberdrola plans to buy out the minority shareholders of its renewables unit.