European stocks drop at open

European stocks have slipped in opening trade with London's FTSE 100 losing 0.80 per cent.

Europe's main stock markets have fallen at the start of trading, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index down 0.80 per cent at 6,641.71 points.

The Paris CAC 40 index on Monday dipped 0.70 per cent to 4,453.00 points and Frankfurt's DAX 30 fell 1.14 per cent to 9,585.52 compared with Friday's closing values.

Asian equities also retreated, taking their lead from Friday's heavy sell-off on Wall Street despite a healthy US jobs report.