Frankfurt DAX: 4098.20 (+9.28)

German shares could not hold their earlier gains in post-bourse computer trading, closing as a sinking Wall Street took its toll, dealers said.

Frankfurt dealers said that interest rate concerns had the potential to upset the market later this week despite the Bundesbank's unchanged repo rate.

Paris CAC-40: 2,997.23 (-20.22)

Paris shares lost about half of Monday's 40-point gain in the CAC-40 index, falling below the hard-won level of 3,000 on a wave of consolidation on the final day of the September account, usually a bearish indicator.

Even so the Paris bourse staged a minor recovery by close of business.

Milan Mibtel: 15,768 (-47)

Italian shares ended down yesterday, just off the session floor on profit-taking, after an early rise continued Monday's record rally on hopes of an early Italian interest rate cut and on continuing EMU optimism. A mixed early Wall Street provided no help.