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In initial trade, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of top companies shed almost 1.2 percent to 5,891.3 points compared with Wednesday's close.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 sank 1.3 percent to 9,826.9 points and the Paris CAC 40 lost nearly 1.2 percent to stand at 4,341.4 points.