LONDON (CNNfn) - European equity markets ended mixed Friday, with only the blue-chip index in Paris reversing its earlier decline to nose ahead as its telecom components gained ground.
The major indexes traded in a narrow range throughout the session, with the London market hit by falls in consumer goods stocks after Unilever warned that full-year sales growth will be lower than expected.
 The benchmark FTSE 100 index closed down 0.35 percent at 6,391, having earlier hit a three-week low, with consumer-goods makers suffering the sharpest losses.
The index has fallen in four of its five sessions this week and ended 2.1 percent below its close June 17.
Frankfurt was weighed down by falls among its technology and financial components. The Xetra Dax index ended down 73.26 points to 6,980.41, a 1.04 percent decline.
 The CAC 40 in Paris closed up 1.09 percent at 6,545.35 as France Telecom shares rallied more than 2 percent and tech stocks shed earlier losses.
The FTSE Eurotop 300, a broad index of the region's largest stocks, fell 0.22 percent to 1,608.33, with its food manufacturers sub-index down 2.4 percent while computer and telecom shares dropped around 1.5 percent. Oil stocks also weakened.
On Wall Street, the Nasdaq composite index was 0.7 percent lower at the close of business in Europe, while the Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.6 percent.
In the currency market, the euro fell back to 93.70 U.S. cents from 94.54 in late New York trade Thursday.
Unilever, Vodafone hit FTSE 100
In London, Unilever (ULVR) fell 9.4 percent after warning that sales will grow only 2 to 3 percent this year, below its earlier estimate of up to 4 percent revenue expansion.
 Sector stablemate Reckitt Benckiser (RB-) slumped more than 11 percent to head the decliners, though traders pointed to a questionable closing price Thursday rather than negative corporate news.
U.K. mobile-phone operator Vodafone AirTouch (VOD) slid 3.7 percent, accounting for most of the FTSE 100's decline, as index constituents were split evenly between gains and declines. However, Vodafone's fall was partly countered by a 3.2 percent gain by British Telecommunications (BT-A)
Technology shares also lost ground in the wake of the Nasdaq composite's decline Thursday, with software publisher Sage Group (SEM) down 2.5 percent and Bookham Technology (BHM), a maker of components for fiber-optic networks, off 2.9 percent.
Brewer Scottish & Newcastle (SCTN) led the list of FTSE gainers with a 5.5 percent advance
Steel maker Corus (CS-) added 3.4 percent ahead of its debut results, due next week, while British Airways (BAY) gained 3.1 percent.
BAE Systems (BA-) rose 2.5 percent after confirming it will retain a 20 percent stake in a restructured Airbus Industrie, the world's No. 2 commercial jet maker.
Outside the FTSE index, shares of IT services provider ICM Computer Group (ICM) plunged 20 percent after the company said profit will fall short of analysts' expectations amid delayed orders and higher spending for investment in e-commerce projects.
Paris ends week buoyant
In Paris, the CAC 40 recovered from a morning dip into the red with France Telecom's advance helping the index end the week 1.2 percent higher, having climbed in three out of five sessions
Contract services operator Sodexho Alliance (PSW) topped the index for the second successive session, closing up 6.6 percent, while engineering firm Alstom (PALS) rose 3.5 percent.
STMicroelectronics (PSTM) also gained 3.1 percent and insurer Axa (PCS) added 2.4 percent.
 The CAC 40 was weakened by a retreat for oil stocks, with TotalFinaElf (PFP) down 1.6 percent. The sector rallied Thursday in the wake of a modest production increase agreed by OPEC members.
Tech consultant Cap Gemini (PCAP) was the weakest performer, ending 6.1 percent lower.
Aérospatiale-Matra (PARO) fell 1.7 percent. Aérospatiale is one of three companies merging to form the European Aeronautics, Defense and Space Co., which will hold the other 80 percent of Airbus.
Milan leads region after banker's death
In Frankfurt, banking and tech stocks were the main losers as the Xetra Dax traded in a narrow band.
Sporting goods maker Adidas Salomon (FADS) was the worst performer, down 4.1 percent, while electronic components maker Epcos (FEPC) lost 3.2 percent.
A 1.1 percent loss by BMW (FBMW) also hit the Dax, though auto sector rival DaimlerChrysler (FDCX) added 1.6 percent as it closed in on a stake in Korea's Daewoo Motor.
Dresdner Bank (FDRB), HypoVereinsbank (FHVM) and Commerzbank [FSEFCBK] - all of which have been linked by reports of merger talks - all fell more than 1 percent.
 Airline Deutsche Lufthansa (FLHA) was the Dax's best performer, up 3.2 percent, while electronics and engineering firm Siemens (FSIE) added 2 percent.
Among smaller bourses, the Mib-30 in Milan was the region's liveliest, up 1.1 percent. Bank stocks rallied following the death of Enrico Cuccia, honorary chairman of Mediobanca. Its stock rose 5.6 percent amid speculation that his demise could spark another round of bank consolidation. Banca di Roma, a Mediobanca shareholder, gained 2 percent, as did insurer Generali, in which Mediobanca owns a stake.
In Oslo, cellular firm NetCom jumped 12 percent after Sweden's Telia bought 51 percent in the firm, trumping a rival offer from Tele Danmark.
The SMI in Zurich closed 0.16 percent ahead, helped by a 1 percent gain in drug maker Roche Holding, reversing part of its 4 percent slide Thursday after it warned of slowing sales growth. 
-- from staff and wire reports
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