European shares fall with investor uncertainty about the global economic recovery weighing and retailers slipping as Hennes & Mauritz missed quarterly profit forecasts.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares is 0.5 percent lower at 1,065.76 points after falling 0.3 percent when data showed US consumer confidence dropped to its lowest level since February.
The Nikkei average clawed up 0.7 percent on window-dressing before the end of Japan's financial first half, but it pared earlier gains as the yen's strength revived and resistance held strong.
The benchmark Nikkei ended up 63.62 points at 9,559.38, while the broader Topix .TOPX gained 0.5 percent to 846.97.
