Europe: Stock markets drop at open

[LONDON] Europe's main stock markets fell by half a percent at the start of trading on Tuesday after rising strongly the previous session.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index dropped 0.5 per cent to 7,340.92 points.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 retreated 0.5 per cent to 12,413.60 points and the CAC 40 in Paris slipped 0.5 per cent to 5,170.54 points compared with the closing levels on Monday.

On Monday, Paris rallied 1.5 per cent and Frankfurt jumped 1.2 per cent, helped by positive eurozone manufacturing data.

AFP