European shares end lower on poor U.S. data, firmer euro

European shares ended lower on Wednesday, surrendering early gains as a rally in the euro and a fall on Wall Street prompted investors to trim their trading positions. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares finished 0.5 percent weaker at 1,547.72 points after rising as high as 1,562.18 earlier in the session following strong euro zone services data and some encouraging corporate results. "The euro is strengthening and that has taken some of the earlier tailwinds away from the market," Gerhard