[LONDON] European stock markets lost ground at the start of trading on Wednesday after a cautious session in Asia.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of major blue-chip companies shed 0.5 per cent to 7,420.61 points from Tuesday's closing level.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index slid 0.7 per cent to 13,153.74 points and in Paris the CAC 40 fell 0.5 per cent to 5,416.49.

AFP