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German stocks grabbed the spotlight in Europe Tuesday, powering the benchmark index to a lifetime high in early trade before trimming its gains in the afternoon. A mixed opening on Wall Street had little impact on late European trading.
    Frankfurt far outstripped lackluster performances from its continental neighbors, with an increase on the Xetra Dax of 1.5 percent, or 94 points, to 6,221.28. The index had peaked at 6,235.22 earlier in the session.
    London's FTSE 100 scraped into the black, rising just 7 points at 6,710.7.
    In Paris the CAC 40 gained 25 points to 5,561.49, having earlier set a new record of 5,587.67, while in Zurich the SMI was up 18 points at 7,310.8.
    The FTSE Eurotop 300, a broader measure of European stocks, gained 0.7 percent, led by transport and electrical stocks.
    Evidence of tame inflation in the United States in Tuesday�s report on November consumer prices failed to excite European investors.
    In Frankfurt, electrical giant Siemens (FSIE) drove the Dax higher after it reported improved prospects for chip pricing. The company plans to spin off its semiconductors unit Infineon. Siemens rose 4 percent to 117.35 euros.
    Other tech stocks rose in sympathy, with French microchip maker STMicroelectronics (PSGS) gaining 4 percent in Paris.
    Also on the move in Germany were telecom stocks Deutsche Telekom (FDTE), up almost 3 percent, and Mannesmann (FMMN), which rose 2.5 percent.
    In London the transport and financial sectors caught the eye in an otherwise dull session.
    Hopes that a much-publicized government plan to revamp the U.K.'s transport system would have little impact on private rail firms� profits brought relief to rail infrastructure operator Railtrack (RTK). Dealers speculated the train regulator's review later this week will not be too onerous for the company's earnings. The stock soared 10 percent, and was pursued higher by shipping and logistics firm P&O (PO-) and British Airways (BAY).
    National Westminster (NWB), the subject of competing bids from Bank of Scotland (BSCT) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBOS), rose 3 percent, while the rival bidders were both some 2 percent higher.
    Speculation about a bid in the retail sector kept supermarket and other retail stocks moving up, with possible target J. Sainsbury (SBRY) jumping 7 percent and fellow struggler Marks & Spencer (MKS) gaining 2 percent.
    In Paris, pay-TV operator Canal Plus's (PAN) recent sharp gains came to an end. After rising more than a third in the past week the shares slid� 4 percent Tuesday. Going in the opposite direction was hypermarket retailer Carrefour (PCA), which benefited from the positive sentiment among retail stocks across the Channel.
    In Zurich the focus was on Ciba Specialty Chemicals, which sold a polymers division to a unit of Deutsche Bank (FDBK) for $1.2 billion, sending Ciba stock up 1 percent. Investors were unimpressed by news that UBS plans to increase its share buyback program, and the bank's stock dropped nearly 5 percent