German stocks grabbed the spotlight in Europe Tuesday, powering the benchmark index to a lifetime high in early trade before trimming its gains in the afternoon. A mixed opening on Wall Street had little impact on late European trading. Frankfurt far outstripped lackluster performances from its continental neighbors, with an increase on the Xetra Dax of 1.5 percent, or 94 points, to 6,221.28. The index had peaked at 6,235.22 earlier in the session. London_s FTSE 100 scraped into the black, rising just 7 points at 6,710.7. In Paris the CAC 40 gained 25 points to 5,561.49, having earlier set a new record of 5,587.67, while in Zurich the SMI was up 18 points at 7,310.8. The FTSE Eurotop 300, a broader measure of European stocks, gained 0.7 percent, led by transport and electrical stocks. Evidence of tame inflation in the United States in Tuesday_s report on November consumer prices failed to excite European investors. In Frankfurt, electrical giant Siemens (FSIE) drove the Dax higher after it reported improved prospects for chip pricing. The company plans to spin off its semiconductors unit Infineon. Siemens rose 4 percent to 117.35 euros. Other tech stocks rose in sympathy, with French microchip maker STMicroelectronics (PSGS) gaining 4 percent in Paris. Also on the move in Germany were telecom stocks Deutsche Telekom (FDTE), up almost 3 percent, and Mannesmann (FMMN), which rose 2.5 percent. In London the transport and financial sectors caught the eye in an otherwise dull session. Hopes that a much-publicized government plan to revamp the U.K._s transport system would have little impact on private rail firms_ profits brought relief to rail infrastructure operator Railtrack (RTK). Dealers speculated the train regulator_s review later this week will not be too onerous for the company_s earnings. The stock soared 10 percent, and was pursued higher by shipping and logistics firm P&O (PO-) and British Airways (BAY). National Westminster (NWB), the subject of competing bids from Bank of Scotland (BSCT) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBOS), rose 3 percent, while the rival bidders were both some 2 percent higher.