Europe: Stock markets down at open

[LONDON] Europe's main stock markets were slightly down at the start of trading on Friday as investors await US jobs data later in the day.

In London the benchmark FTSE 100 index slipped 0.15 per cent to 6,6737.23 points.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 dropped 0.20 per cent to 11,561.37 points and the CAC 40 in Paris lost 0.08 per cent compared with Thursday's close to stand at 5,187.87.

European stock markets ended Thursday lower. However, after losing nearly 20 per cent in the previous three days following a five-week closure, Greece's ATHEX index finished 3.65 per cent higher.

Traders are waiting for Friday's official US employment figures, after payroll firm ADP estimated that the private sector in the world's biggest economy added 185,000 jobs in July, much below the analysts' estimates.

Signs of improving US economic activity could cement expectations of a Fed rate rise next month, analysts say.

AFP