Europe's main stock markets lost ground in opening deals on Friday, as investors took profits after solid gains the previous day.
London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of major blue-chip companies fell 0.3% to 6 780.84 points, dented also by news that the UK economy slumped 2.6% in November from October.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index slipped 0.3% to 13 942.09 points and the Paris CAC 40 declined 0.5% to 5 653.82.