Weaker growth in China and concerns over future lockdowns all helped push the London Stock Exchange's leading index into the red as the week started.
With global Covid-19 cases topping 40 million, the FTSE-100 closed down 34.93 points at 5,884.65. There were similar moves in France, with the Cac 40 down 0.2 per cent, and the DAX 30 in Frankfurt ended 0.4% lower.
Part of the fall in the UK index was the result of the pound strengthening against the dollar.
The pound was trading around $1.30 by Monday evening, up from $1.292 when markets closed on Friday, as traders hoped for a Brexit breakthrough.
But shares were dragged down on news from China that the economy grew 4.9% in the third quarter compared with the same period a year earlier.
This was not as strong as analysts had hoped for and led to fears that any rebound elsewhere may not be as strong as first hoped.
Closer to home, traders were also not helped by the Welsh administration's decision to impose a full "firebreak" lockdown for two weeks from Friday to cut coronavirus cases.
It followed similar moves from Italy and Belgium to slow down the second wave sweeping parts of Europe.
IG Group's Josh Mahony explained: "Markets have kick-started the week in indecisive fashion, with a disappointing Chinese third-quarter growth figure laying the groundwork for a less-than-convincing session.
"With so many varying factors influencing market sentiment, it comes as no surprise to see confusion amongst the trading community.
"With traders having to weigh up the importance of Brexit concerns, coronavirus lockdowns, the US election, and the Chinese recovery, the indecision seen today could be indicative of the week ahead."
In company news, investors took flight at online clothes retailer Boohoo after the company confirmed its auditors at PwC are cutting ties with the business. Shares closed down 61.6p, or 19.5%, at 254p.
Elsewhere, airlines were cautiously optimistic as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said a new testing regime for travellers to the UK can be in place in airports by December 1 – reducing quarantine times.
British Airways owner IAG closed up 4.2p at 100p; TUI enjoyed a 16.5p jump to 291.8p and easyJet closed up 22.7p at 493.4p.
Land Securities closed up 6.7p at 531.9p after the property company said it will sell investments in "subscale sectors" as part of a new strategy to position the business for "growth". The company hopes to bank £1.6 billion from sales.
The biggest risers on the FTSE-100 were IAG; Informa, up 10.8p at 417.6p; Standard Chartered, up 8.8p at 378.6p; Next, up 134p at 6,166p; and British Land, up 7.5p at 364.5p.
The biggest fallers were GVC, down 26p at 1,039.5p; DCC, down 118p at 5,230p; Pennon Group, down 21.5p at 1,006p; Flutter Entertainment, down 275p at 13,000p; and Imperial Brands, down 27p at 1,288p.
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