Frankfurt Dax 2446.05 (+13.12)

GERMAN shares were hampered by a tumbling German debt market with blue chip shares ending the bourse session off their intra day highs despite support from a firm dollar and record close on Wall Street. Continued weakness in German bonds, the dollar's drop from early highs mid afternoon and profit taking depressed the market in post bourse electronic trade. The IBIS Dax index ended the afternoon at 2437.70 points.

Paris CAC 40 1980.68 (+13.95)

French shares closed higher on optimism ahead of the publication today of French and German plans to boost economic growth. Government officials said France would announce a package of minor measures aimed at boosting economic growth, in coordination with Germany.

Milan MIBTEL 9695 (+43)

Italian shares edged slightly higher in low volume trading as investors wait to see the outcome of a final effort by President Scalfaro to stave off early elections.