Stock markets across Europe traded in a seesaw session, and weighed by both sliding oil prices and some uncomfortable company news, and some serious losses in the telecom sector. However, mood was marked with confidence and major indices ended the day with gains, and in expectation of more comments from the U.S. Federal Reserve officials.

In Frankfurt, the DAX index rose 0.28% to close at 9,822 points. Merck was best performer, and rose 3.44%. RWE AG powered up 3.09%, and Fresenius medical group kept rising for yet another day, up 2.88% and 1.86% for respective share classes.

In Paris, the CAC 40 finished up 0.53% at 4,345 points. Sanofi held the winning position to rise 4.37%, LafargeHolcim followed up 3.44% and media group Publicis gained 2.23%. The failed merger deal has dearly cost two telecom companies: Bouygues plummeted 13.45% and Orange sunk 6.17%. Technip lost 1.62%.

Across La Manche, the FTSE 100 rose 0.30% to close at 6,164 points. A calmer trade resulted in gains of 2.43% for Shire Plc, 2.10% for Hikma Pharmaceuticals Plc and 2.07% for Aberdeen Asset Management. Banks were among notable gainers mainly for volume, which in turn didn't influence share prices much. TUI industrial group lost 2.79% and Mondi Plc burned up 2.52%. Shares of retailer group Next Plc were discounted at 2.48% Notable losers: mining companies and the host of the trade, the London Stock Exchange Group Plc down 1.32%.

In Zurich, the Swiss Market Index climbed up 0.57% closing at 7,731 points. LafargeHolcim carved out 3.43% larger chunk, and ABB Ltd. was up 1.46%, while pharma companies Novartis and Roche regained, up 1.29% and 1.15% respectively. Financials were cashing out today: Julius Baer fell 2.32%, UBS Group slid 1.39%, Swiss Life Holding AG dipped 1.18%.

In Netherlands, the AEX index added 0.37% to 436 points with main on the both side: ArcelorMittal rising 1.93%, and telecom group Altice seem to have a bad signal, plunging 11.76%; the company is still recovering from acquisition of Cablevision and not-so-good annual results.

The Austrian ATX rolled down 0.60% to close at 2,252 points. Financial sector mainly had a rough day, and Erste Group squeezed up 0.39%, but building company RHI AG built up 2.29% for the day. AT&T Austria added 0.61, while Telekom Austria AG lost 0.24%.

In Milan, the FTSE MIB rolled down 0.77%, after a punishing day for banks, with Banco Popolare dropping 7.37%. Telecom Italia was down 3.83%. Finnmeccanica rose 2.99% and Mediaset S.p.A. added 2.29%.

The euro was weaker compared to the U.K. sterling by 0.37%, and stronger against the Swiss franc by 0.09%, and lost 0.03% versus the U.S. dollar by 6:15 p.m. CET.