London shares closed lower on Thursday as traders looked past positive economic data to focus on bleak eurozone news, notably fallout from the Cyprus bailout impasse.

European stock markets slid Thursday as disappointing eurozone data and the Cyprus bailout impasse overshadowed strong Chinese economic performance.

European stock markets slid Thursday as traders looked past strong Chinese economic data to focus on bleak eurozone news, notably fallout from the Cyprus bailout impasse.

London shares closed lower on Wednesday as the government announced its intention to stick firmly to a barrage of austerity measures while unveiling the budget.

The euro sank 0.5 percent Tuesday as Cyprus threw its EU-IMF bailout in question when legislators rejected a controversial bank deposit tax meant to raise funds for the government.

London shares closed lower as the 10 billion euros Cyprus bailout deal appeared headed for the rocks with MPs for the president's own party saying they wouldn't vote for it.

The euro sank against other major currencies Monday after the proposed bailout for Cyprus, including a steep tax on bank depositors, revived concerns about the eurozone.

London shares lost ground on Monday on news that Cyprus, home to around 100,000 British people, plans to tax bank deposits as part of a controversial international bailout.

London shares closed in the red on Friday in downbeat pre-weekend deals before the outcome of a major eurozone ministers meeting that seeks to agree a bailout for the Cyprus government.

London shares closed higher on Thursday as investors took heart from news that Ireland could become the first eurozone nation to emerge from its bailout programme and US jobless claims declined for a third straight week, dealers said.

Asian markets mostly fell on Wednesday, with few catalysts to drive buying after recent gains, while Wall Street provided a limp lead.

Shares in London closed a little higher on Tuesday, drawing support from more positive Eurozone macroeconomic news.

Shares in London strengthened at the close on Monday, gaining ground in tandem with a rally on Wall Street, where investors continued to draw confidence from last week's positive US jobs data.

Factfile on the Falkland Islands, which hold a referendum Sunday and Monday on their status as a British overseas territory:

Shares in London strengthened at the end of trade on Friday with traders reacting to positive Chinese economic data and upbeat US jobs data.

Europe's main stock markets maintained earlier gains on Thursday after the ECB and Bank of England held their key rates, forgoing any new stimulus measures.

The Bank of England on Thursday froze interest rates at a record-low 0.50 percent, where borrowing costs have stood for four years, and maintained its emergency stimulus programme as the British economy teeters on the brink of a triple-dip recession.

Shares in London strengthened at the end of trade on Thursday after the ECB and Bank of England held their key rates, forgoing any new stimulus measures.

The Bank of England on Thursday voted at a regular policy meeting to hold its reference interest rate at a record-low 0.50 percent, where it has stood for four years, and opted against increasing its cash stimulus programme to boost a British economy on the brink of recession.

Europe's main stock markets rose on Thursday as traders looked ahead to monetary policy decisions due from the ECB and Bank of England that might result in more British stimulus.