European stocks opened lower on Wednesday, with miners exposed to China leading losses after weak economic data from Beijing, while British stocks were pressured by a larger-than-expected headline inflation reading.
And by 0708 GMT, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down 0.2%, after closing at its lowest level in more than a month on Tuesday.
Britain’s FTSE fell 0.3% after data showed British inflation slowed as expected in July, the lowest annual rate since February 2022, with more signs of pressure on service prices.
European miners fell 0.8% as traders assessed prospects for a weak economic recovery in China, the largest metals consumer.
New home prices in China fell for the first time this year in July, the latest in a series of pessimistic data.
Alcon rose 1.5 percent after the Swiss eye care products company raised its full-year net sales forecast.
Admiral Group jumped 4.6 percent after the British motor and home insurer reported a marginal increase in first-half profit before tax.