DAX: 3,562.11 (-11.58)

German shares will remain mostly at the whim of the dollar in the near term as the market searches for fresh fundamental data to support another run at record levels, traders said.

"The DAX index is rising and falling with the dollar, one Frankfurt trader said.

CAC-40: 2,776.01 (+1.38)

The Paris Bourse closed at a new high, but only by the skin of its teeth.

The CAC-40 index finished up a mere 0.05 per cent from Wednesday, but still the highest reading at which the indicator has ever finished a session. The previous record, set on Wednesday, was 2,774.63 points.

Mibtel: 12,404 (-22)

Italian stocks ended slightly lower yesterday after a session of range-trading ahead of the expiry of May options today. US data, including April CPI, was digested as neutral.

Dealers said traded volume was fairly healthy at around one trillion lire, but they saw little concrete market direction.