European stocks edge down

European shares closed lower and are on track to end the month down as concerns over the euro zone debt situation weighed, with volumes thin as both US and UK markets were closed for a public holiday.

Volumes were thin as both US and UK markets were closed for a public holiday.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed down 0.2 percent at 1,132.71 points, with the index volume at only 57.8 percent of its 90-day average.

Parties in German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government agreed on Monday to shut all the country's nuclear reactors by 2022, while keeping a disputed nuclear fuel rod tax. German utilities took a beating, with RWE down 2.3 percent and E.ON down 1.6 percent, while French nuclear group Areva dropped 4.6 percent.

The Nikkei average edged down in the lowest volume of the year with a stronger yen countering bargain hunting, and market players saying the benchmark will likely hover around 9,500 at least until US jobs data. The benchmark Nikkei fell 0.2 percent to 9,504.97. The broader Topix index shed 0.2 percent to 823.68.

The US stock market remained closed today due to the Memorial Day holiday.