Europe: Stocks mixed at open

[LONDON] Europe's main stock markets began on a mixed note on Thursday, as London rose and the Frankfurt and Paris indices eased.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of top companies gained 0.35 per cent compared with Wednesday's close to open at 6,745.30 points.

The CAC 40 in Paris slipped 0.14 per cent to 4,990.96 points and Frankfurt's DAX 30 dipped 0.08 per cent to 11,795.91.

German and French stock markets had rebounded sharply on Wednesday after upbeat comments from European Central Bank head Mario Draghi while the euro struck a 12-year low on expectations of a US rate hike.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 index had shot above the 11,800 level for the first time Wednesday.

AFP