European stock markets closed lower on Wednesday as the focus shifted back to global economic growth after the election in the United States.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares closed 2.15% lower at 953.24 points. The index is down nearly 37% to date this year.
In Frankfurt, the DAX index ended at 5166.87 points, down 111.17 or 2.11%.
In Paris, the CAC-40 index closed at 3618.11 points, down 72.98 or 1.98%. The Swiss market index closed at 6177.15 points, down 222.83 or 3.48%.
In Britain, the FTSE 100 closed down 108.77 points, 2.3%, at 4,530.73, after gaining nearly 20% in the previous six sessions.
Asia, Australia & NZ
In Tokyo, the Nikkei average rose 4.5% to a three-week high. The index gained 406.64 points to close at 9,521.24.
In Hong Kong, shares closed 3.2% higher: the Hang Seng Index was up 455.82 points at 14,840.16.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index climbed 121.5 points to close at 4,336.6.
The NZX 50 index was up 42 points on Wednesday to close at 2886 on turnover of $41 million.
Telecom was down 1 cent at $2.36, Contact Energy rose 4c to $7.39 and Fletcher Building was up 40c at $6.24.
Pumpkin Patch was up 8c at $1.08 after the clothing retailer said it had reduced bank debt.
Sky City Entertainment group rose 6c at $3.18, while Vector was up 2c to $2.00 after securing LPG supplies in a deal with New Zealand Oil & Gas which gained 8c to $1.40.
In currency markets the New Zealand dollar was trading at US60.34 cents, 87.46 Australian cents, 37.98 pence, 60.11 yen and 0.4677 euro. The Trade Weighted Index stands at 60.64.