Europe stocks mostly lower; tobacco stocks lead
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European stock markets opened lower across the board on Wednesday, tracking losses in Asia, which fell as investors began to scale down expectations of central-bank stimulus. The Stoxx Europe 600 index (STX:XX:SXXP) fell 0.4% to 269.43, led by tobacco and mining stocks. Shares of British American Tobacco PLC (LSS:UK:BATS) fell 2% and Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (LSS:UK:IMG) dropped more than 2% after a court ruling went against the industry in Australia. The FTSE 100 index (FTI:UK:UKX) fell 0.4% to 5,841.42, with Rio Tinto PLC (LSS:UK:RIO) (NYSE:RIO) down nearly 2% and BHP Billiton PLC (LSS:UK:BLT) (NYSE:BLT) off 1.4%. The German DAX 30 index (ITFXAX) fell 0.3% to 6,954.24 and the French CAC 40 index (ENX:FRX1) fell 0.3% to 3,440.07.