Around the World's Markets: Frankfurt

Leading German stocks fell amid renewed concerns of slowing economic growth. The benchmark Dax Xetra Index closed down 104.05 points - or 1.94 percentage points - at 5266.46.

Key fallers included financial stocks, with sentiment knocked by reports that profits at Dresdner's investment banking decision declined by 25 per cent last year. Retail stocks were also hit over worries that slowing consumer spending would dent profits. Shares in Metro AG, Europe's biggest retailer, fell 4.04 euros to 67.7 following a series of broker downgrades.