Europe's main stock markets dropped at the start of trading on Friday, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index falling 0.2% to 7 528.28 points.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 lost 0.4% to 12 381.36 points and the Paris CAC 40 slipped 0.5% to 5 514.55, compared with Thursday's closing levels.
Meanwhile, the Milan stock exchange fell more than 2% in early trading, dropping 2.2% to 21 040 points, reflecting investor jitters over the Italian government's defiant deficit announcement.
* Sign up to Fin24's top news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO FIN24 NEWSLETTER