Europe’s major stock markets dipped in
opening deals on Thursday, mirroring Asia on growing fears over an end to
central bank largesse.

London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index shed 0.6 percent to 7,109.95 points,
compared with Wednesday’s closing level.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt’s DAX 30 lost 0.8 percent to 15,739.48 points
and the Paris CAC 40 declined 0.6 percent to 6,638.19.

“A tepid opening to trading has seen investors choosing to react to
further weakness in Asian markets, as opposed to the further strength of Wall
Street,” noted Interactive Investor analyst Richard Hunter.

Asian markets fell after South Korea became one of the first major
economies to start lifting interest rates since they were cut to record lows
last year to battle the coronavirus impact.

Sentiment also remains blighted by the prospect of an end to Federal
Reserve’s emergency financial support.

Traders are also keeping a keen eye on China after it rattled world
markets in recent weeks with a wave of regulations aimed at winding in
private firms — particularly in the tech sector — it considered to have
become too powerful and posed security risks.