European share prices wilted on Friday, dragged down by weaker-than-expected US fourth-quarter growth and uneasiness about Iraq ahead of today's election.
The London FTSE 100 index shed 0.42 percent to close at 4,832.8 while in France the CAC gave up 0.54 percent to finish the week at 3,870.35. In Frankfurt the DAX dipped 0.35 percent to 4,201.81.
The DJ Euro STOXX 50 index of leading eurozone shares fell 0.50 percent to 2,955.89.
On the currency market the dollar, initially weakened by the disappointing US growth figures, rebounded against the euro in nervous trading late Friday.
The single European currency was at US$1.3030 against US$1.3062 late Thursday in New York.
US stocks tumbled as the year's biggest merger and better-than-expected results from Microsoft were overshadowed by the soft economic data and fears of violence in Iraq.
After a mixed opening, the major US indexes turned decisively lower.
Early sentiment was lifted by the US$57 billion deal in which household products giant Procter and Gamble would buy razor and battery group Gillette, and by strong results from Microsoft after the bell on Thursday.
But the enthusiasm was sapped by a report showing slower-than-expected US economic growth of 3.1 percent in the fourth quarter, largely due to the massive US trade deficit that limited growth.
In London the logistics group Exel rose 2.01 percent to ?7.8550 on reports it could be acquired by US parcel deliverer UPS.
Drinks group Allied Domecq fell 1.73 percent to ?4.8350 after confirming that exchange rate factors would cut heavily into its net earnings for fiscal 2005, ending in August.
In Paris PSA Peugeot Citroen jumped 1.61 percent to 47.44 euros on news that it is negotiating a cooperation accord with troubled Japanese automaker Mitsubishi.
On the Frankfurt exchange Deutsche Boerse, which operates the exchange, lost 0.61 percent to close at 46.91 a day after its initial bid for the London Stock Exchange was rejected.
Elsewhere in Europe the SP/MIB fell 0.39 percent to 31,080 in Milan, the IBEX-35 lost 0.15 percent to finish at 9,139.4 in Madrid, the BEL-20 dropped 0.67 percent to 2,985.31 in Brussels, the AEX shed 0.43 percent to reach 357.02 in Amsterdam and the Swiss Market Index of London-quoted shares lost 0.40 percent to end the week at 5,750.7.
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