Around the World's Markets: Frankfurt

THE ELECTRONIC Xetra DAX ended down 82.96 points, or 1.70 per cent, at 4,795.28. The floor DAX closed 0.62 per cent down at 4,811.60. "I see no sharply lower prices if we don't get a strong selling argument," said Stefan Mueller at Dresdner Bank. Bullish analysts said the market could rebound toward 5,000.

Yesterday's decline gathered pace after the Bundesbank left interest rates unchanged at its meeting earlier in the day. The loss widened even though no move on rates had been expected.