LONDON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - European shares ended lower after hitting 28-month highs on Wednesday, as disappointing figures from Goldman Sachs and a fall in U.S. housing starts hurt sentiment and prompted some investors to take profits.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares provisionally finished 1.3 percent lower at 1,152.71 points after touching 1,170.00, the highest since September 2008.
"This is just a blip in the market which is otherwise drifting higher. What we are seeing now is some profit taking and I would not read too much into that," said Klaus Wiener, chief economist at Generali Investments.
"What supports equities is a sound macroeconomic environment and that is still in place. I think the earnings season will be quite favourable and will support the market. Profit margins are still high and demand is improving."
Miners featured among the top losers, tracking losses in key metals that fell on U.S. economic data. The STOXX Europe 600 Basic Materials index dropped 2.5 percent, while Anglo American declined 2.8 percent. (Reporting by Atul Prakash)