European shares ended stronger on Tuesday but off the day's highs as U.S. stocks fell after a key gauge of factory activity showed slower-than-expected growth, Reuters reported. Despite trimming gains, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index closed 0.5 percent higher at 1,288.8 points -- a 4-1/2-year high -- after jumping nearly 23 percent last year. The rise was led by oil shares such as BP and Royal Dutch Shell, both up about 3 percent, supported by a 3 percent jump in crude oil prices to $63 a barrel. Oil rallied on fears that an unresolved row over the price Russia charges Ukraine for gas could yet affect supplies to Europe. Trading volumes in European stocks were about 2.5 billion shares, the average daily volume, as the London and U.S. markets opened after the New Year holiday. --More 21 22 Local Time 18 22 GMT
