European markets declined Monday.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 dropped 0.91 percent to 1,586.36.

Madrid’s IBEX fell 0.48 percent to 15,187.5, while the CAC-40 was down 0.62 percent to 5,807.44 in Paris and Frankfurt’s Dax was 0.89 percent lower to 7,969.47.

The best performer on the CAC-40 was luxury goods manufacturer LVMH (Euronext: MC), which added 2.55 percent to €87.68 after it reported sales up by 8 percent in the past 9 months.

Utilities were also higher.

EDF (Euronext: EEN) gained 0.3 percent to €77.75, while RWE (FWB: RWE) added 0.37 percent to €89.69 and Eon (FWB: EOA; LSE: EON; NYSE: EON) was up 0.77 to 129.15 for the best performance on the Dax.

Gaz De France (Euronext: GAZ) was 0.82 percent higher to €38.15 while Suez (Euornext: SZE; NYSE: SZE) added 0.89 percent to €42.93.

In the oil sector, Total (Euronext: FP; NYSE: TOT) gained 1.51 percent to €56.43.

Peugeot (Euronext: UG; OTC: PEUGY) turned in the worst performance on the CAC-40 as it dropped 3.7 percent to €57.85, while Renault (Euronext: RNO) was down 2.06 percent to €108.14.

In the related tire making sector, Michelin (Euronext: ML) fell 2.9 percent to €96.83.

Airlines also saw declines.

Lufthansa (FWB: LHA) was 1.74 percent lower to €20.86 while Air France (Euronext: AF; NYSE: AKH) dropped 2.19 percent to €27.20.

Banks began to recover in Europe as the markets there saw big gains.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 2.73 percent higher to 1,550.62.

Frankfurt’s Dax gained 2.32 percent to 7,750.84, while the IBEX added 3.19 percent to 14,487.8 in Madrid and the Paris CAC-40 was up 3.27 percent to 5,730.82.

Commerzbank (FWB: CBK) topped the leaders on the Dax with a gain of 5.51 percent to €28.91, while Deutsche Bank was 4.27 percent higher to €94.19.

In Paris, BNP Paribas (Euronext: BNP; TYO; 8665) was up 5.14 percent to €78 and Societe Generale (Euronext: GLE) jumped 6.88 percent to €121.31.

Insurers also did well.

Allianz (FWB: ALV; NYSE: AZ) gained 4.17 percent to €157.97, while AXA (Euronext: CS; NYSE: AXA) was up 5.42 percent to €30.33.

The best performance on the CAC-40, however, came from Michelin (Euronext: ML), which was 7.03 percent higher to €90.57.

The tire maker was helped by the Fed’s decision to cut interest rates in the US, which is its biggest market.

There was only one loser on the day on the CAC-40, where eyeglass lens maker Essilor International (Euronext: EF) dropped 0.16 percent to €43.19.

The worst performance on the Dax came from the health care sector as Fresenius Medical Care (FWB: FREG) fell 0.77 percent to €37.29.

European equities markets were higher Monday.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 gained 2.37 percent to 1,514.49.

In Frankfurt the Dax was 1.78 percent higher to 7,474.33, while Madrid’s IBEX added 1.92 percent to 14,731.8 and the Paris CAC-40 was up 2.21 percent to 5,569.28.

Car and truck manufacturers saw gains.

Peugeot (Euronext: UG; OTC: PEUGY) was up 3.24 percent to €59.57 and Renault (Euronext: RNO) gained 3.79 percent to €98.74 in Paris, while in Frankfurt DaimlerChrysler (FWB: DCX; NYSE: DCX; TYO: 7663) was up to €62.45 and truck manufacturer Man (FWB: EDF1) gained 4.63 percent to €98.53.

Airlines were also higher, with Lufthansa (FWB: LHA) up 4.23 percent to €19.92 while Air France (Euronext: AF; NYSE: AKH) added 5.04 percent to €30.

Chemicals group Altana (FWB: ALT; NYSE: AAA) had the best day on the Dax with a gain of 5.15 percent to €15.71.

Meanwhile, the best performer on the CAC-40 was tire maker Michelin (Euronext: ML), which was 5.35 percent higher to €88.81.

Other gainers included steel maker ThyssenKrupp (FWB: TKA; LSE: THK) with a gain of 3.82 percent to €39.65 on a broker upgrade from “hold” to “add”.

Property investor Unibail (Euronext: UL) turned in the worst performance on the CAC-40, dropping 1.96 percent to €170.77, while the worst day on the Dax was in the financial services sector as MLP (FWB: MLPB) - formerly Marschollek, Lautenschlager, and Partner - with a decline of 2.84 percent to €12.33.

Software manufacturer SAP (FWB: SAP; NYSE: SAP) fell 0.53 percent to 39.29.

Food processor Groupe Danone (Euronext: BN; NYSE: DA) was 0.69 percent lower to €54.35, while drinks producer Pernon-Ricard (Euronext: RI) dropped 0.88 percent to €153.76.

European markets were higher Tuesday.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 gained 1.33 percent to 1,523.87.

In Frankfurt, the Dax was up 0.93 percent to 7,513.66, while the IBEX added 1.53 percent to 14,652.9 and the CAC-40 was 1.58 percent higher to 5,620.

Banks and insurers were both higher.

Insurer Axa (Euronext: CS; NYSE: AXA) was the best performer on the CAC-40 as it added 3.94 percent to €29.03, while in Frankfurt Allianz (FWB: ALV; NYSE: AZ) was 2.2 percent higher to €158.19.

In the banking sector, Commerzbank (FWB: CBK) led the way on the Dax with a gain of 5.32 percent to €31.11, followed by Deutsche Bank (FWB: DBK; NYSE: DB), which added 3.95 percent to €101.35.

Among French banks, Societe General (Euronext: GLE) was 3.17 percent higher to €132.32, while BNP Paribas (Euronext: BNP; TYO: 8665) gained 3.78 percent to €82.97 and Credit Agricole (Euronext: ACA) added 3.88 percent to €28.13.

The automobile and truck manufacturing sectors were mixed.

BMW (FWB: BMW) was 1.97 percent higher to €36.15, but Renault (Euronext: RNO) dropped 1.06 percent to €99.89 and Man (FWB: EDF1) fell 2.12 percent to €103.02 for the worst performance of the session on the Dax.

Tire manufacturer Michelin (Euronext: ML) had the worst day on the CAC-40 as it dropped 2.07 percent to €86.45 after it said it plans to spend $350 million to improve US production.

The semiconductors sector was lower as STMicroelectroncis (Euronext: STM; NYSE: STM) was 0.41 percent lower to €12.29 and Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX) fell 1.77 percent to €11.11.

Drug makers were also lower.

Schering (FWB: SCH) was 0.58 percent lower to €104.44, while Bayer (FWB: BAY; NYSE: BAY; TYO: 4863) dropped 1.93 percent to €51.22.

Most European markets were lower Monday, with the major exception of Frankfurt’s Dax, which added 0.11 percent to 7,444.04 on the session.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 fell 0.85 percent to 1,504.27.

The IBEX dropped 0.7 percent to 14,432.1 in Madrid, while the Paris CAC-40 was 1.16 percent lower to 5,532.99.

Some banks were higher on the session.

Societe Generale (Euronext: GLE) added 0.25 percent to €128.25 in Paris, while Commerzbank (FWB: CBK) gained 1.37 percent to €29.57 in Frankfurt.

Elsewhere in financial services, lender Dexia (Euronext: DEXB, DX) added 2.85 percent to €20.54 after it said it would address the issue of its exposure to the subprime market in a conference.

It was the first gain for the lender in 12 sessions, and the best performer on the day on the CAC-40.

In the pharmaceuticals sector, Sanofi (Euronext: SAN; NYSE: SNY) added 0.23 percent to €59.93.

Fresenius Medical Care (FWB: FREG) was up 1.95 percent to €35.99.

The best performer on the day on the Dax was chemicals group BASF (FWB: BAS; LSE: BFA; NYSE: BF), which added 1.98 percent to €93.68.

The worst performance on the Dax came from Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX), which fell 3.91 percent to €11.27 after it fired its CFO due to “irreconcilable differences”.

Michelin fell the most on the CAC-40, dropping 3.73 percent to €88.28.

Carmakers, meanwhile, were mixed.

Volkswagen (FWB: VOW; OTC; VLKAY) added 1.44 percent to €140.90, but DaimlerChrysler (FWB: DCX; NYSE: DCX; TYO: 7663) was down 2.04 percent to €64.39 and Renault (Euronext: RNO) was 2.44 percent lower to €100.96.

In the oil sector, Total fell 2.01 percent to €53.61 as oil prices dropped and worries arose that demand will slow if the US economy falters.

The European markets were mixed on the session Monday.

The Eurofirst 300 dropped 0.06 percent to 1,519.09, while the Paris CAC-40 added 0.04 percent to 5,646.36 and the Dax was up 0.6 percent to 7,456.31 in Frankfurt.

In Madrid, the IBEX was 0.54 percent lower to 14,508.3.

Banks were lower on the day, largely on concerns about their exposure to the subprime sector in the United States.

Commerzbank (FWB: CBK) was the worst performer on the Dax, dropping 3.06 percent to €30.73 after it announced provisions it was making for possible losses due to exposure to the US subprime sector.

Elsewhere in the sector, Deutsche Bank (FWB: DBK; NYSE: DB) was down 0.88 percent to €96.97 on the news that it is a finalist in the bidding for insurer Abbey Life, the closed life insurance unit of Lloyds TSB (LSE: LLOY).

Societe Generale (Euronext: GLE) fell 1.77 percent to €123.52.

Car and truck makers were mixed on the session.

Peugeot (Euronext: UG; OTC: PEUGY) added 0.9 percent to €60.29, while Volkswagen (FWB: VOW; OTC: VLKAY) gained 2.95 percent to €128.46 after Unicredit (FWB: CRI; ISE: UC) raised its recommendation from “sell” to “hold”.

Truck maker Man (FWB: EDF1) was 2.86 percent higher to €103.11.

On the other hand, Renault (Euronext: RNO) dropped 0.83 percent to €102.40.

In a related sector, tire maker Michelin (Euronext: ML) had the best day on the CAC-40 as it added 3.82 percent to €93.52.

The best performer on the Dax was industrial gases group Linde (FWB: LIN), which gained 5.37 percent to €88.37 after it reported that profits were 5.9 percent higher in the second quarter and raised its full-year forecast.

Media group Lagardere (Euronext: MMB) had the worst day in Paris, falling 1.92 percent to €58.20.

Most European markets were also lower again on Friday.

The main exception was the IBEX, which was 0.23 percent higher to 14,574 in Madrid.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 dropped 0.54 percent to 1,519.59. In Paris the CAC-40 was 0.55 percent lower to 5,643.96, while the Dax fell 0.76 percent to 7,451.68 in Frankfurt.

The best performance on the session on the CAC-40 came from chipmaker STMicroelectronics (Euronext: STM; NYSE: STM), which added 1.44 percent to €12.66.

Elsewhere in the semiconductors sector, Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX) was also higher, gaining 0.41 percent to €12.26.

The Dax saw Volkswagen (FWB: VOW; OTC: VLKAY) rise to the top with a gain of 4.91 percent to €125.40.

There were other gains in the automobile manufacturing sector as Renault (Eurnoext: RNO) was up 0.37 percent to €103.26 and Peugeot (Euronext: UG; OTC: PEUGY) added 1.17 percent to €59.75.

Not all carmakers were higher however, as BMW (FWB: BMW) dropped 2.71 percent to €35.77.

In a related sector, tire maker Michelin (Euronext: ML) had the worst day on the CAC-40 as it fell 3.72 percent to €90.08.

The worst performance on the Dax came from retailer Metro, which dropped 2.99 percent to €56.39.

Not all retailers saw declines, however, as Carrefour (Euronext: CA) added 0.62 percent to €51.64.

The media sector was mixed.

Vivendi (Euronext: VIV) added 0.29 percent to €31.53, while Lagardere (Euronext: MMB) was down 1.92 percent to €59.34 and Bouygues (Euronext: EN), which has interests in both media and construction, fell 2.09 percent to €57.61.

Another construction group, Vinci (Euronext: DG), was 0.49 percent higher to €52.86.

European equities markets saw their biggest losses in five years On Thursday.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 dropped 2.62 percent to 1,530.56.

Among continental markets, the Dax was 2.39 percent lower to 7,508.96, while the IBEX was down 2.66 percent to 14,540.4 in Madrid and the Paris CAC-40 fell 2.78 percent to 5,675.05.

There were no winners reported on the CAC-40, while the best performance on the Dax came from electricity and natural gas utility RWE (FWB: RWE) only amounted to a gain of 1.49 percent to €79.52.

Elsewhere on the Dax, rival utility Eon (FWB: EOA; LSE: EON; NYSE: EON) was 0.38 percent higher to €117.26.

The chemicals sector was also a bit higher in Frankfurt as BASF (FWB: BFA; NYSE: BF) added 0.26 percent to €95.07 and Altana (FWB: ALT; NYSE: AAA) gained 0.7 percent to €17.35.

Car and truck makers were lower on the session.

BMW (FWB: BMW) was 2.62 percent lower to €36.73 and truck manufacturer Man (FWB: EDF1) fell 2.74 percent to €103.43, while Peugeot (Euronext: UG; OTC: PEUGY) was down 4.28 percent to €59.06 and Renault (Eurofirst: RNO) dropped 4.83 percent to €102.88.

The worst performer on the CAC-40 was tire maker Michelin (Euronext: ML), which fell 6.07 percent to €93.56.

Other decliners included hotels operator Accor (Euronext: AC), which was 4.75 percent lower to €62.95.

Construction group Vinci (Euronext: DG) was down 4.93 percent to €52.60, while drinks maker Pernod-Ricard (Euronext: RI) dropped 5.18 percent to €152.59.

Most European markets were higher on Monday.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.58 percent higher to 1,609.07.

In Madrid, the IBEX added 0.85 percent to 15,056.7, while the CAC-40 gained 0.87 percent to 6,009.16 in Paris and the Dax was 0.88 percent higher to 7,944.21 in Frankfurt.

Carmakers saw gains, with DaimlerChrysler (FWB: DCX; NYSE: DCX; TYO: 7663) up 2.73 percent to €66.82 ahead of its second quarter report.

Peugeot (Euronext: UG; OTC: PEUGY) added 1.78 percent to €65.10 after a broker raised its target share price.

On the other hand, truck manufacturer Man (FWB: EDF1) dropped 0.31 percent to €107.20.

In a related sector, tire maker Michelin (Euronext: ML) had the best day on the CAC-40 as it gained 2.75 percent to €104.73.

Meanwhile, the best performer on the Dax was software group SAP (FWB: SAP; NYSE: SAP), which was 2.85 percent higher to €41.07 on rumors that it could be a target of private equity.

In energy-related sectors, utility Suez (Euronext: SZE; NYSE: SZE) was up 1.42 percent to €41.40, while power generator Alstom (Euronext: ALO) gained 1.52 percent to €136.59.

In the oil sector, Total (Euronext: FP; NSYE: TOT) added 1.82 percent to €60.55.

The worst performances of the day came from Infineon (FWB: IFX; NYSE: IFX), which was 0.62 percent lower in Frankfurt to €12.87, and property company Unibail (Euronext: UL), which dropped 1.75 percent to €184.86 in Paris.

Other decliners included chemical group Altana (FWB: ALT; NYSE: AAA), which was 0.34 percent lower to €17.61.

IT services group Cap Gemini (Euronext: CAP) fell 0.55 percent to €55.64, while in the retail sector Carrefour (Euronext: CA) was down 0.19 percent to €53.26.

Most European markets saw gains on Monday.

The main exception on the continent was the IBEX, which dropped 0.56 percent to 14,974.7 in Madrid.

In Paris, the CAC-40 was 0.03 percent higher to 6,104.39, while the Dax added 0.36 percent to 8,077.39 in Frankfurt.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 0.35 percent to 1,625.52.

The telecommunications sector saw gains. In Paris, France Telecom (Eurofirst: FTE; NYSE: FTE) was up 1.62 percent to €20.73, while in Frankfurt Siemens (FWB: SIE; NYSE: SI), which has telecommunications interests among others, gained 1.8 percent to €111.06.

Airlines also saw gains. Lufthansa (FWB: LHA) added 1.01 percent to €20.98, while Air France (Euronext: AF; NYSE: AKH) was up 1.91 percent to €34.18.

In the steel sector, Mittal Steel (Euronext: MT; NYSE: MT) had the best day in Paris, adding 2.75 percent to €48.97, while in Frankfurt ThyssenKrupp (FWB: TKA; LSE: TKA) gained 1.61 percent to €46.08.

Carmakers were mixed on the session. While Peugeot (Euronext: UG; OTC: PEUGY) was 0.69 percent higher to €65.48 and DaimlerChrysler (FWB: DCX; NYSE: DCX; TYO: 7663) gained 0.95 percent to €69.09, Renault (Euronext: RNO) was 0.68 percent lower to €119.35.

In a related sector, tire maker Michelin (Euronext: ML) was up 0.54 percent to €106.12.

Utilities were lower in Paris, with Suez (Euronext: SZE; NYSE: SZE) dropping 1.28 percent to €41.46. Meanwhile, EDF (Euronext: EEN) had the worst day on the CAC-40 as it fell 2.08 percent to €76.31.

French banks also saw declines. Credit Agricole (Euronext: ACA) was 0.47 percent lower to €29.76, while Societe Generale (Euronext: GLE) fell 0.63 percent to €137.92.

The worst performer on the day on the Dax was drug maker Bayer, which was 1.32 percent lower to €55.93.