Around the world's markets: Frankfurt

GERMAN shares fell across the board, with the key DAX index ending down 193.5 at 5038.1. "It is only a question of time until we see the index below the 5,000 level. I am really worried," one trader said.

Banks continued their massive losses of previous days, while the business- software giant SAP was also down sharply on news it is being sued in the US for $500m by a drug distributor. SAP said it would fight the allegations vigorously.