European stock markets fall at open

[LONDON] Europe's main stock markets fell at the start of trading on Wednesday after surging the previous session, as oil prices declined once more.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index dropped 0.2 per cent to 6,391.54 points at the open compared with Tuesday's close.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index shed 0.4 per cent to 10,312.64 points, and the Paris CAC 40 lost 0.4 per cent to 4,546.35.

Global equities had charged higher on Tuesday as rising oil prices and buoyant German investor confidence brought cheer to markets.

But crude fell back on Wednesday after petroleum workers called off a strike in key OPEC producer Kuwait, quashing hopes the disruption could help ease a persistent supply glut, traders said.

AFP