Frankfurt Dax: 2563.16 (+4.32)

The Frankfurt stock market managed a mild advance as the DAX index finished at 2563.16, up 0.17 percent or 4.32 points by comparison with the Tuesday close. But the indicator had been as high as 2,571.69 during the session.

Paris CAC-40: 2002.90 (-15.09)

The Paris Bourse limped through its third straight losing session, the downtrend being due mainly to French political and labour uncertainties depressing the franc. The CAC 40 index was off 0.11 percent at the opening and broke down through the 2,000 point level during the day, a loss of more than 1 per cent, before clawing back some of the losses to end the day at 2,002.0 points off 0.75 per cent from the Tuesday close.

Milan MIBTEL: 9603 (-46)

Italian shares drifted downward, following the easier tone on bond and bond futures markets, as investors waited for details of the Government's 1997 budget plans.