European stocks lower

European stocks retreated at the open today. London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of major blue-chip companies lost 0.4 percent to 5,765.94 points.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX also dipped by 0.4 percent at 10,659.00 points and the Paris CAC 40 erased 0.2 percent to stand at 4,517.06.
Milan's FTSE Mib slid by 0.5 percent to 17,479.56 and Madrid's IBEX 35 dropped by 0.5 percent to 7,070.50 points.