European stocks close sharply lower on Japan fears

LONDON: Europe's main stock markets closed sharply lower on Tuesday in a global sell-off driven by concerns over a growing nuclear crisis in Japan following last week's massive earthquake and tsunami.

London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares fell 1.38 percent to 5,695.28 points but was off early lows when it lost some three percent.

In Paris, the CAC 40 dropped 2.51 percent to 3,780.85 points and in

Frankfurt the DAX slumped 3.19 percent to 6,647.66 points.