LONDON, June 26 (Reuters) - European shares closed lower on Friday, as drugmakers fell led by Sanofi-Aventis, while commodities retreated tracking lower crude and metal prices.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares provisionally closed down 0.3 percent at 843.49 points, having been up as much as 856.74 points earlier in the day.
"Its been a funny kind of day. The market started off well and then slipped back. It is difficult to say what it is," said Peter Dixon, strategist at Commerzbank.
"Over the course of the day sentiment has seemed to have dissippated. I also think it is a bit of a reaction to the negative day in the U.S. Investors just want to sell and take profits," Dixon said.
Major U.S. indexes were down 0.1-0.7 percent.
Drugmakers took the most points off the index. Sanofi-Aventis shares slipped 8 percent, extending the previous day's losses, while Novo Nordisk fell 3.7 percent on continuing concerns about the safety of Sanofi's diabetes drug Lantus and modern insulins in general.
Energy stocks were lower as crude fell back 1.3 percent. BP , Royal Dutch Shell and Tullow Oil slipped 0.2-0.8 percent.
Miners were in the doldrums as copper retreated 1.2 percent. Anglo American, Antofagasta, BHP Billiton, Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation and Rio Tinto were down 0.7-2 percent. (Reporting by Joanne Frearson)