London (AFP) - European stock markets slid further Thursday following losses in Asia and overnight on Wall Street, as traders awaited the outcome of the ECB's latest policy meeting.
The euro was up against the dollar but down versus the pound, with a stronger sterling in general weighing on London's benchmark FTSE 100 stocks index featuring numerous multinationals.
European Central Bank governors meet Thursday under pressure to clarify their stimulus exit plans, as the eurozone economy rebounds from the pandemic and inflation surges.
"Pre-ECB nerves are firmly in evidence in European stock markets," noted Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG trading group.
Equities were down also on growing concerns about the impact of the Delta coronavirus variant, while tech giants drove a sharp sell-off in Hong Kong after China further tightened its grip on the gaming sector.
After enjoying a broadly healthy run-up at the start of September, equity markets have largely been on the back foot this week.
Wall Street's three main indices finished well in the red Wednesday after the Federal Reserve's closely watched Beige Book on the state of the US economy pointed to a slowdown caused by Covid-19 as well as problems with supply and a lack of workers.
"Momentum definitely seems to be slowing as far as the recovery is concerned," said City Index analyst Fiona Cincotta.
"Before we'd been hearing that the Fed would tighten monetary policy and that's what was unnerving the market.Now, it's actually slightly softer data and also rising Covid cases."
Traders were keeping tabs on Washington also after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned the US government would run out of money next month unless lawmakers hike the federal borrowing limit, which could lead to the world's top economy defaulting on its debt repayments.
In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, she said that without lifting the limit "the United States of America would be unable to meet its obligations for the first time in our history".
Key figures around 1100 GMT
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.2 percent at 7,011.01 points
Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 0.2 percent at 15,572.29
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.3 percent at 6,650.98
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.4 percent at 4,161.07
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.6 percent at 30,008.19 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.3 percent at 25,716.00 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.5 percent at 3,693.13 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 35,031.07 (close)
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 109.90 yen from 110.24 yen at 2040 GMT
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3812 from $1.3773
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1833 from $1.1815
Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.67 pence from 85.77 pence
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.2 percent at $72.76 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $69.40 per barrel
