London - European stocks were steady at the start of trading on Monday, with market watchers tweeting about the death of music legend David Bowie in the absence of much movement for equities.
London's benchmark FTSE 100 index fell 0.1% to open at 5 905.7 points compared with Friday's close and following last week's heavy losses caused by rising concerns over China's economic slowdown.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 slipped 0.4% to 9 814 points at the open Monday and the Paris CAC 40 was flat at 4 333.2.
British finance minister George Osborne tweeted about his sadness over the death of Bowie, who died Sunday from cancer at the age of 69.
"So sad to hear about the great David Bowie - his music was a backdrop to my life. An incredible icon of British creativity who made us proud."
Bowie's androgynous style and outrageous costumes - often worn as part of his alter egos Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane in the 1970s - shook up the world of rock 'n' roll and catapulted him to worldwide stardom.