February 3, 2006	Friday	Muharram 4, 1427

LONDON, Feb 2: European stock markets mainly fell on Thursday after results from Anglo-Dutch energy giant Royal Dutch Shell disappointed investors. Share prices were weaker across much of Europe in early deals, failing to capitalise on strong gains recorded in Tokyo and New York.

London’s FTSE 100 index of leading shares dipped 0.18 per cent to 5,791.30 points, in Paris the CAC 40 slid 0.17 per cent to 4,991.04, while Frankfurt’s DAX 30 firmed 0.01 per cent to 5,727.38 points.

The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of leading eurozone shares decreased by 0.19 per cent to 3,721.29 points.

In London trading on Thursday, the latest earnings from Shell helped to drag oil majors lower after fourth-quarter and full-year results missed market forecasts.

Shell posted a record net profit of $22.94 billion (19.03 billion euros) for 2005, an increase of 30.0 per cent from the previous year as the company was boosted by oil prices racing to historic peaks.—AFP