Major stock markets outside the United States ended on Wednesday.
Shares of energy companies were among the biggest laggards, sinking along with crude oil prices on persistent worries over a US recession. Royal Dutch Shell shed 4.8 percent, Total fell 5.8 percent and Repsol lost 3.2 percent.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed down 3.2 percent at 1,262.40 points, after falling more than 4 percent during the session.