European shares turn lower; US jobs data weighs

European shares turned lower in early afternoon trade on Tuesday after U.S. Conference Board employment data fell in August, with losses in the European banking sector overshadowing gains in mining stocks.

By 1406 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares was down 0.2 percent at 974.13 points after being up as much as 982.63 points earlier in the session.

In the banking sector, HSBC, BNP Paribas, Societe Generale and Banco Santander were down 1.6 to 4.6 percent.

Miners Anglo American, Antofagasta, BHP Billiton, Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation, Rio Tinto and Xstrata were up 1.4 to 2.6 percent.