Europe: Stock markets slide at open

[LONDON] European stock markets slid at the start of trading on Thursday after large drops in Asia and on Wall Street, as investors predict a series of US interest rate rises.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index shed 0.5 per cent to 7,243.32 points compared with the close on Wednesday, as traders also digested a series of earnings updates from major companies.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 shed 0.9 per cent to 12,358.82 points and the Paris CAC 40 lost 0.6 per cent to 5,272.43.

AFP