London's benchmark FTSE 100 index dropped 1.35 percent to 5,295.75 points, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index shed 2.26 percent to 5,447.32 points and in Paris the CAC 40 retreated 2.31 percent to 2,960.93. Madrid slumped 2.51 percent.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011