European stock markets closed down growth, as the focus of many investors now are the results of the elections in Italy.

The cost of Pearson Plc fell 3.7% to 1,171 pence, while showing the biggest drop since July 27, after the Financial Times said that projected operating profit for 2013 will match last year.

Shares of Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (RB /) fell 3% after fixing with the largest drop since May, after it was reported that U.S. regulators have agreed to two nenazvanym generics manufacturers to manufacture tablets.

The cost of Deutsche Boerse AG jumped 5.6 percent to 49.30 euros, showing the biggest gain since June 29, after four people familiar with the situation, but who wanted to remain anonymous, said the possible merger talks.

Stoxx Europe 600 Index (SXXP) fell less than 0.1 percent to 288.40 at the close of trading.

National indexes rose in 14 of the 18 western European markets.

FTSE 100 6,355.37 +19.67 +0.31% CAC 40 3,721.33 +15.05 +0.41% DAX 7,773.19 +111.28 +1.45%

PostNL cost rose by 6.6% to 1.97 euros, while showing the largest gain since January 21, after it was reported that fourth-quarter profit before interest and tax amounted to 219 million euros ($ 290 million). Note that according to the average forecast profit was $ 144 million.

BP Plc shares rose 1.6% to 451.2 pence on the background of the fact that today the commencement of the proceedings of the rupture of oil in the Gulf in 2010.