LONDON, Sept 20: European stock markets advanced on Wednesday as investors shrugged off initial worries over the bloodless coup in Thailand and focused instead on an interest rate decision in the United States.

Asian stock markets were jolted on Wednesday by the military coup in Thailand but the losses were limited to a near one-per cent fall in Tokyo, while Hong Kong finished in positive territory.

London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares firmed 0.01 per cent to 5,832.30 points in late morning deals, Frankfurt's DAX 30 won 0.57pc to 5,906.91 points and in Paris the CAC 40 index added 0.64pc to 5,148.57.

The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of leading eurozone shares increased 0.48 per cent to 3,798.46 points. The euro stood at 1.2676 dollars.

Japanese shares fell on Wednesday as sentiment took a hit from the military coup in Thailand, a key regional hub for Japanese companies and exporters, dealers said.

Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei-225 index fell 0.98 per cent to 15,718.67 points.

Hong Kong equities, meanwhile, rebounded as investors regained composure following an initial knee-jerk reaction to the news from Bangkok.

In European trading meanwhile, Continental shares jumped 3.60 per cent to 91.55 euros as the Frankfurt market cheered speculation that the German maker of tyres and auto parts might be a takeover target, dealers said.

Continental had issued a statement Tuesday saying that it had been contacted by a potential buyer.

In London, Corus shares leapt 2.64 per cent to 369.25 pence following a broker upgrade from Morgan Stanley, on increased confidence that the company will strike a value-enhancing deal in the coming months.

In Paris, EADS shares sank 0.88 per cent to 22.52 euros.

French newspaper Les Echos reported that the European aerospace group's Airbus unit will soon be forced to announce a further six month delay for initial deliveries of the A380 superjumbo.

In US trading on Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.12 per cent to close at 11,540.91 points, while the technology-laden Nasdaq composite shed 0.60 per cent to 2,222.37.

The broad-market Standard and Poor's 500 index declined 0.22 per cent to 1,318.31 points.—AFP