Central European shares fell, led by Erste Bank AG, Austria's biggest bank, and OTP Bank Nyrt., Hungary's largest, Bloomberg reported.

The NTX Index of 30 companies in the region shed 0.4 percent to 1,963.18 at 10:31 a.m. in Vienna.

The Czech PX Index lost 1 percent, as did Hungary's BUX Index. Poland's WIG20 Index slipped 0.5 percent and Austria's ATX Index fell 0.6 percent.

Erste fell 0.5 percent to 47.29 euros. OTP dropped 1.3 percent to 8,755 forint.

Verbund, Austria's biggest utility, gained 1.8 percent to 48.78 euros. OMV AG, central Europe's biggest oil company, rose 0.4 percent to 56.76 euros after the price of crude oil hit a record yesterday.

Crude oil for February delivery traded at $99.20 a barrel in after-hours electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 4:04 p.m. in Singapore today, after touching the $100 level for the first time yesterday.