European stocks steady at open

London - Europe's main stock markets were steady at the start of trading on Tuesday despite another plunge on China's main index.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index edged up 0.06% to 6 554.06 points compared with Monday's close.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 fell 0.22% to 10 916.71 points and the CAC 40 in Paris dropped 0.24% to open at 4 972.79.

The Shanghai index closed down 6.15% on broad worries over the slowing Chinese economy and the government's commitment to prop up shares, dealers said.

Thai shares meanwhile notched their steepest decline this year and the baht slid to its lowest level versus the dollar since 2009 after a bomb attack Monday killed at least 20 people and injured scores in Bangkok.

The dollar also headed higher against the euro, helped by improving confidence in the US housing sector ahead of the release of US central bank minutes.