LONDON: Europe's main stock markets retreated at the start of trading on Wednesday, with London's FTSE 100 benchmark index of leading shares down 0.23 percent at 5,856.25 points.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 slid 0.32 percent to 7,056.05 points and in Paris the CAC 40 decreased by 0.39 percent to stand at 3,456.07 points.

Asian markets mostly edged lower Wednesday following a slip on Wall Street and on profit-taking, while lingering concerns over China's slowing economy continued to play on confidence.