February 03, 2022: European stock markets diverged slightly at the open Thursday, with investors sitting tight before interest rate announcements from the European Central Bank and Bank of England.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 0.1 percent to 7,594.20 points shortly after the start of trading, as investors digested also strong earnings, including from British energy major Shell.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX fell 0.3 percent to 15,562.27 points and the Paris CAC 40 lost 0.2 percent to 7,103.60.

AFP/APP

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