European stock markets slide at open

LONDON: European stock markets slumped at the start of trading on Tuesday following sharp drops across Asia and on Wall Street, as oil prices tumbled once more.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index slid 1.4 percent compared with the close on Monday to open at 5,794.9 points.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index retreated 1.4 percent to 9,599.6 points and the Paris CAC 40 shed 1.7 percent in value to 4,238.9.

A more than six-percent collapse in Shanghai led Asian markets lower Tuesday as a two-day global rally fuelled by stimulus talk came to an abrupt end.