European shares pare gains after U.S. ISM data

LONDON Dec 3 (Reuters) - European shares pared gains in afternoon trade on Thursday after data showed the U.S. services sector unexpectedly contracted in November. [ID:nN0394160]

By 1509 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top shares was up 0.3 percent at 1,018.72 points after rising to a high of 1,025.58 points earlier in the session.

General industrial shares featured among the worst performers. German industrial conglomerate Siemens (SIEGn.DE) fell 4.3 percent after it took a big fourth quarter writedown on its struggling network joint venture with Nokia and warned of lower operating profits and possible restructuring in 2010. (Reporting by Joanne Frearson) ((joanne.frearson@thomsonreuters.com; +44 207 542 2773, Reuters Messaging:joanne.frearson.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))