LONDON (AFP) - Europe's main stock markets extended losses in early trade on Wednesday amid widespread gloom over the US economy, with London's leading index below 6,000 points for the first time since mid-August.
London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares was down 1.30 percent at 5,947.00 points shortly after the open. Frankfurt's DAX 30 lost 1.00 percent to 7,491.07 points and in Paris the CAC 40 dropped 1.24 percent to 5,185.67.
The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone shares decreased 1.00 percent in value to stand at 4,099.56 points.
The European single currency stood at 1.4808 dollars.
European stock markets had suffered a major sell-off Tuesday -- with London closing down more than three percent -- in the face of gathering fears of recession in the United States and depressing corporate news, dealers said.
Heading the FTSE losers board early on Wednesday was Experian, the world's largest credit checking company, which slumped 5.33 percent to 355 pence.
It came as Experian said trading conditions were not expected to improve during its latest quarter owing to the squeeze on global credit.
Fears of a US recession also rattled Asian stocks Wednesday, while US stocks plummeted overnight after weak US retail sales data and a multibillion-dollar loss by banking giant Citigroup.
Credit flows worldwide have tightened because big banks have lost billions of dollars in mortgage-related investments, which has forced them to curtail lending and triggered efforts by central banks to boost liquidity.
Many analysts believe the housing and credit woes could destabilize the wider US economy, or even trigger a recession.
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