LONDON (Reuters):

Here is how major stock markets outside the United States ended yesterday.

LONDON -The FTSE 100 index of Britain's biggest shares fell 0.4 per cent, led by insurer Old Mutual on below-forecast results, after a mix of U.S. data first sent shares down and then helped them partly recover. The FTSE 100 closed at 6025.9 points, down 24.2 or 0.4 per cent.

EUROPE - European shares fell slightly, marking a seven-week low after mobile phone giant Nokia cut its profit margin forecasts and as worries about a strong euro continued. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 0.26 per cent to 1,425.35 in its fifth consecutive session in the red.

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6281.68 points, down 16.49 or 0.26 per cent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 5306.24 points, down 2.41 or 0.05 per cent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 8462.18 points, down 55.17 or 0.65 per cent.

MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 30789 points, down nine or 0.03 per cent.

TOKYO - The Nikkei average edged down 0.19 per cent as losses in Honda Motors and other blue-chip stocks were mostly offset by gains in Softbank and recently battered stocks such as banks. The Nikkei closed down 30.12 points at 15,855.26.

HONG KONG - Hong Kong blue chips fell 2.9 per cent in their worst one-day percentage drop in six months, as sharp losses on Wall Street triggered a broad sell-off in a market that recently set successive records. The benchmark Hang Seng index lost 564.48 points to end at 18,639.53, its lowest close since November 1.

SYDNEY - Australian shares fell 1.3 per cent to a one-week closing low, as a tumble on Wall Street dented sentiment and encouraged investors to take profits in banks and U.S.-exposed companies like Westfield Group. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index lost 67.9 points to close at 5,384.3.