Europe: Stocks climb as UK begins 'Brexit election'

[LONDON] European equity markets rose at the open on Thursday, as Britons began voting in an election that seeks to determine the future of Brexit.

In opening deals, London's benchmark FTSE 100 of major blue-chip companies added 0.1 per cent to 7,225.15 points, compared with the closing level on Wednesday.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index won 0.2 per cent to 13,167.56 and the Paris CAC 40 also added 0.2 per cent to 5,871.20 points.

More than 4,000 polling venues across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, have opened their doors for a day of voting that ends at 2200 GMT.

Up for grabs are all 650 seats in the British parliament, which has been deadlocked since the 2016 referendum on EU membership that saw a majority vote to leave.

AFP