European stock markets stable at open

London - Europe's main stock markets steadied at the start of trading on Friday, with London's FTSE 100 index up 0.5% at 6 113.1 points.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index rose almost 0.3% to 9 823.7 points and the Paris CAC 40 was essentially flat at 4 418.1 compared with the close on Friday.

Stock markets around the world had rebounded before the weekend, ending a volatile month with a bang after the Bank of Japan unexpectedly slashed interest rates into negative territory for the first time.