Around the World's Markets: Frankfurt

GERMAN shares fell as investors were reluctant to take positions amid a lull in corporate news and a weak opening on Wall Street. The DAX- 30 fell 0.17 per cent to 5,391.36. "A small consolidation like this is normal," said Jurgen Gries, trader at Merck Finck & Co in Munich. "There was very low volume today."

RWE rose 2.5 per cent; the company, which could be overtaken in electricity output if Veba and Viag merge, repeated its upbeat sales outlook. Die Welt reported that RWE wanted to boost annual turnover in its energy division.