European stock markets closed lower this evening after rising for the previous five sessions, as weakness in mining shares due to a drop in metal prices outweighed gains in the banking sector.
London's FTSE 100 closed down seven points (0.2%) at 3,857, led by mining stocks, but bank HSBC gained 4% to 460p. In Paris, the CAC fell 0.9% to 2,767 and in Frankfurt the DAX lost 1.4% to 3,988.
Dublin's ISEQ closed down 10 points at 2,085, with banks losing ground. AIB dropped three to 55 cent and Bank of Ireland fell five to 32 cent. Food group Kerry lost 33 cent to €15.07 but insurer FBD gained 18 cent to €6.25.
On Wall Street, US markets moved higher after a surprise jump in US housing starts in February lifted sentiment. The Dow Jones climbed 77 points to 7,294 while the Nasdaq was up 28 points at 1,432.
Earlier, Japanese shares ended at their highest level in five weeks as hopes mounted for a recovery in the global economy thanks to governments' stimulus efforts. The Nikkei index gained 245 points (3.2%) to end at 7,949.
