A mixed and rather uncertain start to European trading sees the FTSE 100 slip

The European stock markets have not long reopened for the final live trading session of the month and it has been a rather inconclusive and uncertain start to the day. The DAX did try to push higher but that move seems to have blown out before it got to test the 17k handle again. The FTSE 100 looks like the biggest underperforming index in early trading, as it edges below 7,650. UK retail stocks are a drag on the FTSE 100 so far today. That has also come following disappointing German sales and lower than forecast French inflation. Naturally, this could all be due to the month end and we should not forget that, because stocks have enjoyed a good run over the past couple of weeks and that does rather belie the fundamental back drop in place for the Eurozone as a whole right now. Perhaps the looming BOE interest rate decision tomorrow is another factor helping to push the FTSE 100 lower in early trading