Europe Stock Markets Open Lower

RIMANEWS - London and Frankfurt stock markets have opened 1.17 and 2.18 percent lower amid fears over Greece's planned referendum on its latest bailout package.

Germany's blue-chip DAX stock index fell 2.18 percent to 5,835.36 points in opening trading on Thursday, AFP reported.

The British capital's FTSE 100 index of leading companies also opened 1.17 percent lower at 5,419.75 points in initial trading as investors anxiously awaited Thursday's G20 summit in the French resort of Cannes that is expected to be dominated by the eurozone debt crisis.

Eurozone debt crisis also sent shock waves to Asian markets as Hong Kong shares dropped 2.49 percent and Seoul stocks sank almost 1.5 percent in Thursday trading.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 491.21 points to 19,242.50.

Eurozone leaders had hoped to present a definitive action plan for Greece at the meeting as Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and the EU leaders have tied vote to whether Greece remains part of the euro bloc.

Greek Financial Minister Evangelos Venizelos said on Thursday that he was opposed to Papandreou's plan for a referendum on whether his country should remain in the eurozone.

The referendum plan announced by embattled Greek prime minister has angered European leaders.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had made it clear that Athens would not receive its next tranche of emergency aid until the referendum is passed.

It is expected that the referendum to be held on December 4.[presstv]