LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - European shares finished lower after a choppy trading session on Wednesday, with disappointing economic numbers forcing investors to stay cautious, while a sharp decline in crude prices putting pressure on energy stocks.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares provisionally finished 0.2 percent lower at 1,085.14 points after falling to a low of 1,078.90 earlier in the session.
"The market is beginning to look a little overbought at the moment, given the rush that we have seen. Some kind of consolidation or a bout of profit-taking is not unexpected," said Mike Lenhoff, chief strategist at Brewin Dolphin.
Figures showed U.S. industrial output rose at a slower pace in August and a measure of New York state business conditions slipped to the lowest in more than a year.
Energy shares topped the losers list, pressured by a decline of more than 2 percent in crude oil prices on news a pipeline operator was preparing to reopen a crude line. BP, Total and StatoilHydro shed 1 to 2.6 percent.
(Reporting by Atul Prakash)