BS:European shares fall after euro zone economy data
The euro and shares fell today after data showed the euro zone's two biggest economies shrank even more than expected late last year, throwing a first quarter recovery into doubt.
Stock markets had managed to turn around initial falls but were back down by mid-morning. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was down 0.4 percent at 1162.58. Frankfurt's DAX and Milan's fell 0.9 percent while Paris's CAC-40 and London's FTSE were 0.4 percent lower.
In Asia, Japan's Nikkei share average rebounded as investors flocked to companies posting rosy earnings such as brewer Asahi Group Holdings , but profit-taking in financials limited gains and pulled down the broader Topix index.
The Nikkei gained 0.5 percent to 11,307.28. That is 1.7 percent below the 33-month high of 11,498.42 hit on February 6.
