LONDON: European stock markets fell sharply at the start of trading Friday, following a round of bumper losses across Asia.
In initial trade, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index shed 1.1 percent at 6,104.12 points.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index sank 1.3 percent to 9,833.26 and the Paris CAC 40 dropped 1.2 percent to 4,331.28 points compared with Thursday's closing levels.
Tokyo stocks dived more than three percent to lead losses across Asian stock markets Friday after a closely watched survey showed confidence at Japan's top manufacturers had fallen to a three-year low.
A surprise jump in a gauge of Chinese manufacturing was unable to arrest the declines, with investors jolted by news that Standard & Poor's had lowered its credit rating outlook on China to negative.
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