London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares slid 0.37 percent to 5,343.85 points, Frankfurt's DAX 30 lost 0.26 percent to 5,557.07 points and in Paris the CAC 40 eased 0.04 percent lower to stand at 2,982.86. French banks were again weak with BNP Paribas shedding 5.38 percent and Societe Generale 3.18 percent.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011