European shares fell from 3-1/2 year highs on Wednesday to close over 1 percent lower, burdened by new signs of slowing U.S. growth and fears of more interest rate hikes, while mining and oil stocks dragged on the market, Reuters reported. Shares were weaker after comments from Federal Reserve officials fuelled worries of more monetary tightening. The mood was further clouded when Wall Street extended losses from the previous session after U.S. non-manufacturing data showed slowing growth in the services sector and added to worries about a flood of earnings warnings. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading pan European shares was 1.1 percent down at 1,228.5 points -- 13.5 points below Tuesday's 41-month peak -- while the narrower DJ Euro STOXX 50 shed 1.3 percent to 3,418.8 points. Around Europe, London's FTSE 100 index and the Paris CAC 40 both shed 1.2 percent, while Frankfurt's DAX trimmed 1.3 percent. The Swiss Market Index was down 0.2 percent in Zurich.
