Frankfurt - The 30-share DAX, the main German stock index, slipped to 3,936.45 at close in Frankfurt on Monday, the first time in four years that it has closed lower than
4,000.

The slide, 1.95 per cent compared to Friday's close, was prompted by weak prices on Wall Street and follows a fall of 9 per cent in the course of last week, with bank stocks leading the market lower.

Since the start of the year, the top 30 German shares have eased an average 16 per cent in value.

At its height in July 2007, the DAX peaked at 8,151.57. (dpa)