Europe: Stocks fall further at open

[LONDON] European stock markets dropped at the open on Thursday, extending the previous session's heavy losses on concerns over US President Donald Trump's ability to push through economic reforms.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index fell 0.5 per cent to 7,465.64 points compared with the close on Wednesday.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX shed 0.2 per cent to 12,608.19 points and the Paris CAC 40 lost 0.2 per cent to 5,309.91.

Global stock markets had slumped Wednesday, with the Dow losing 1.8 per cent and Frankfurt shedding 1.4 per cent, while Tokyo followed suit earlier Thursday with a loss of 1.3 per cent.

The moves downwards come as reports that Trump asked former FBI chief James Comey to stop a probe into ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn over his contacts with Russia stoke questions about how an embattled White House will advance tax cuts and other growth measures.

AFP