European shares dip at open

LONDON: Europe's main stock markets eased at the start of trading on Wednesday in a steadier performance following the previous session's heavy falls.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index dipped 0.1 percent to 6,180.46 points compared with Tuesday's close.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index was almost flat at 9,926.77 points and the Paris CAC 40 fell 0.2 percent in value to open at 4,365.20.

European and US stocks fell sharply Tuesday, with Frankfurt slumping 1.9 percent, as weak Chinese manufacturing data and a downgrade in the eurozone growth forecast revived worries about slowing global growth.