Europe: Shares edge lower after weak Asia trading

[LONDON] European shares opened slightly lower on Tuesday, after a weak trading session in Asia and relatively thin mid-August trading volumes offset a fairly buoyant set of corporate earnings updates.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was down 0.3 per cent at 0712 GMT, with a dip in oil prices and weak metals prices hitting mining stocks. "There has been a poor session in Asia and I don't think investors are getting involved...Basic inertia and low volumes are dragging markets lower," said Michael Hewson, analyst at CMC Markets.

Lindt & Spruengli shares rose 1 per cent after the Swiss chocolate maker reported forecast-beating profits.

REUTERS