US stocks closed lower after data showed US housing starts fell unexpectedly in October, offsetting strength in the natural resources sectors amid US dollar weakness.

The Dow Jones industrial average is fell 11.11 points, or 0.11 percent, at 10,446.31. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dipped 0.52 points, or 0.05 percent, at 1,109.80. The Nasdaq Composite Index slid 10.64 points, or 0.48 percent, at 2,193.14.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended down 0.3 percent at 1,027.16 points, having hit a fresh 13-month high earlier in the trading session.

The index, which slumped 45 percent last year, is up 24 percent in 2009 and has surged 60 percent since hitting a record low in early March.

Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 0.6 percent today to its lowest close in six weeks, as concerns about banks and property firms joining a rush to tap the equity market for capital weighed on shares in those sectors.

The benchmark Nikkei lost 53.13 points to 9,676.80, its lowest close since Oct. 5. The broader Topix lost 0.8 percent to 850.06, its lowest close since May.