European stocks weaken at open

LONDON: Europe's stock markets dipped in opening trade on Wednesday, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of top companies down 0.19 percent to 6,740.69 points.

In Frankfurt the DAX 30 fell 0.28 percent to 10,970.41 points and the CAC 40 in Paris shed 0.40 percent to 4,831.03 compared with the closing levels on Tuesday.

European equities also retreated Tuesday as investors tracked the latest news on stalled Greek debt talks, while HSBC bank slid on revelations of a radical overhaul.

Later on Wednesday, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was expected to meet with Angela Merkel in Brussels after the EU's top official for the euro said a breakthrough bailout deal could be "days" away.