In Frankfurt, the DAX 30 gained a modest 0.30 percent to 6,248.20 points, while in Paris the CAC 40 slipped by 0.69 percent to 3,066.19 points.

In Madrid the Ibex 35 was down by a sharp 2.96 percent at the close, while in Milan the FTSE Mib index lost 2.85 percent.