Europe: Stock markets rebound at open

[LONDON] Europe's leading stock markets rebounded very slightly at the start of trading on Thursday, as investors awaited the outcome of the European Central Bank's first policy meeting of the year.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 0.5 per cent to 5,702.30 points compared with the close on Wednesday.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index gained 0.1 per cent to 9,400.7 points and the Paris CAC 40 edged up also by 0.1 per cent to begin at 4,129.7.

London and Paris both shed 3.5 per cent Wednesday, while the Frankfurt market gave up 2.8 per cent on weak global growth fears and as oil prices collapsed further.

While the European Central Bank is not likely to announce any new policy measures on Thursday, it is expected to keep the door open for further monetary easing in the face financial markets turmoil, according to analysts.

AFP