Europe: Shares edge down as trade fears make comeback

[LONDON] European shares opened lower on Wednesday after the resignation of Donald Trump's economic adviser Gary Cohn, seen as a bulwark against protectionist forces within the US government.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.5 per cent in early dealing and Wall Street futures traded in negative territory.

"Gary Cohn's departure rattled markets and equity markets look set to fall on the open. Stocks have declined overnight in Asia and it's looking like it will be red today on the open", Neil Wilson, a Senior Market Analyst at ETX Capital told his clients in a morning note.

Most European markets and sectors were down, with Germany's DAX falling the most, down 0.7 per cent.

REUTERS