Germany's DAX index closed virtually unchanged on Tuesday, edging up 0.02 percent to 26,323 points after failing to surpass Friday's record high of 26,445 points. The benchmark index had broken through 26,000 points for the first time earlier in August before setting a new peak last Friday.
Market sentiment remained cautious following disappointing US employment data released Friday, with investors expecting the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates steady at its September meeting. The mid-cap MDAX slipped 0.4 percent to 32,133 points.
Commodities rallied as Brent crude oil jumped 5.3 percent to $86.60 per barrel and gold climbed to $4,360 per ounce. Among individual stocks, Qiagen shares surged more than five percent to a five-month high, while PNE plunged nearly 20 percent.