European investors wary as markets open

LONDON: Investor caution marked the opening of Europe's main stock markets on Wednesday, ahead of British growth figures and a key meeting of the European Central Bank.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index opened down by 0.1 percent, held back by losses in mining stocks and investor wariness ahead of the publication of Britain's third-quarter growth figures.

In early trade, the FTSE fell 9.91 points to 7,516.63 points.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index was down fractionally at 12,988.44 points, on the eve of a crucial meeting of the European Central Bank.

Investors in Paris were also watchful, but the CAC 40 nudged into positive territory, taking on 4.81 points to 5,399.61, a rise of 0.1 percent.

Traders were looking ahead to Thursday, when the ECB is set to announce a big reduction in its financial stimulus support for a recovering eurozone economy.

Elsewhere, Tokyo's benchmark index closed lower Wednesday, ending the longest winning streak in its nearly 70-year history.