European stock markets turned weaker late Friday following publication of strong US employment figures that sparked fears of interest rate hikes in the US, possibly as early as June.
The London FTSE 100 index fell 0.39 percent to end the day at 4,498.4, while in Paris the CAC 40 slipped 0.05 percent to 3,653.18. In Frankfurt the DAX was down 0.35 percent at 3,895.64 at the close.
The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 of leading eurozone shares dropped 0.32 percent to 2,756.85.
The US employment report, showing that a better-than-expected 288,000 jobs were created in April, sent the dollar sharply higher against the euro. The euro in late-day deals had fallen to US$1.1882 from US$1.2079 late on Thursday in new York.
On Wall Street shares stumbled as investors positioned for a quickened pace of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.
Joseph Liro, equity strategist with Stone and McCarthy Associates, said the jitters on Wall Street meant the jobs data was a "losing proposition" for stocks no matter where it came in.
"There just wasn't going to be a good number for equities this morning," he said. "Since it's strong, we're talking about a rate hike sooner than later, but if it had come in weak, there would have been worries about the economy sustaining the strong earnings we've seen."
Liro added that his firm was now forecasting that the Fed would move on rates in June, rather than August.
Earlier, Friday Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei-225 index closed 1.15 percent lower to 11,438.8 points, as growing expectations of higher US interest rates kept investors cautious, dealers said.
In London supermarkets were under pressure after a report from the Taylor Nelson Sofres research group showed that Sainsbury had lost market share in the February to April period. Sainsbury shares fell 1.7 percent to £2.735.
Tesco, Britain's leading supermarket chain, shed 1.3 percent to £2.485.
In Paris financial issues suffered on prospects of higher interest rates. The Societe Generale bank gave up 1.52 percent to end the session at 67.85 euros while BNP Paribas lost 0.53 percent and closed at 49.19 euros.
Sentiment in Frankfurt was dampened by concern over surging oil prices. Automaker DaimlerChrysler fell 2.06 percent to 36.13 euros.
Elsewhere shareprices declined 0.18 percent to 337.97 in Amsterdam, 0.11 percent to 27,827 in Milan, 0.63 percent to 2,406.40 in Brussels and 1.14 percent to 8027.00 in Madrid.
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