The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was down 0.3 percent, at 5,738.97.
Britain's top shares were weaker yesterday, weighed by miners with investors banking recent strong gains on a quiet day for the market, as the index retreated from the previous session's six-month closing high.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST
At 11.29 a.m. GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 0.2 percent at 1,091.42 points after gaining the previous two sessions. The index is up 4.4 percent this year.
European shares slipped on caution as the Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers' meeting got underway, but losses were limited as the spectre of more quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve next month supported equity markets around the world.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets
In Europe, Germany's DAX was closed down 0.1 percent at 6,605.84 while the CAC-40 in France ended down 0.3 percent at 3,867.87.
Short-dated German government bond yields rose after an unexpected rise in German business sentiment reinforced the European Central Bank's cautiously optimistic view of the region's economy, although this failed to boost stocks.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei
Earlier in Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index gained 50.23 points, or 0.5 percent, to 9,426.71 and South Korea's Kospi added 1.2 percent to 1,897.31.
For the week, the Nikkei 225 lost 0.8 percent, while the Topix dropped 0.2 percent. Stocks also climbed after some US earnings reports beat estimates.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng
Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.7 percent to 23,480.81.
The index posted its first weekly drop since the period ended August 27. G20 finance officials are likely to discuss global economic issues including currencies at a meeting that begins today in Gyeongju, South Korea, Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.6 percent to 4,648.2.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa
South Africa's FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index fell for the first day in three, losing 321.3, or 1.1 percent, to 30,118.16 at the 5 p.m. close in Johannesburg. The gauge has increased 0.2 percent this week.
