Financial News

LONDON (ShareCast) - Europe's main markets are largely flat in early dealings as investors take a break following yesterday's global slide.

European bourses suffered in a broad sell-off Monday, while American Express (NYSE: AXP - news) was the only blue chip to rise in the US.

Banks are among the biggest fallers, with Commerzbank (Xetra: 803200 - news) , Deutsche Bank (Xetra: 514000 - news) , BNP Paribas (Paris: FR0000131104 - news) , Credit Agricole (Paris: FR0000045072 - news) and Societe Generale (Paris: FR0000130809 - news) all lower.

Across the markets, the German DAX is flat at 4,890 with the French CAC falling 6 points at 3,212. The Swiss market is down 41 points to 5,358.

In economic news, investors await a reading on German economic sentiment from the ZEW Center for European Economic Research.

CAC 40 (Paris: news) - Risers Sanofi (Paris: FR0000120578 - news) -Aventis (SAN) € 46.75 +1.96% EADS (Paris: NL0000235190 - news) (EAD) € 11.22 +1.49% Cap Gemini (Paris: FR0000125338 - news) (CAP) € 25.63 +1.26% Total (FP) € 39.93 +1.24% Air Liquide (Paris: FR0000120073 - news) (AI) € 65.96 +0.84% GDF Suez (Paris: FR0010208488 - news) (GSZ) € 26.45 +0.84% Essilor International (EI) € 34.03 +0.71% Carrefour (CA) € 28.92 +0.66% L'Oreal (Paris: FR0000120321 - news) (OR) € 52.60 +0.60% EDF (EDF (Paris: FR0010242511 - news) ) € 34.25 +0.56%

CAC 40 - Fallers AXA (CS) € 13.60 -2.33% BNP Paribas (BNP) € 47.97 -1.71% Dexia (DEXB) € 5.86 -1.46% Credit Agricole (ACA) € 10.43 -1.18% Lafarge (Paris: FR0000120537 - news) (LG (003550.KS - news) ) € 48.76 -1.05% Veolia Environnement (Paris: FR0000124141 - news) (VIE) € 21.13 -0.87% PPR (Paris: FR0000121485 - news) (PP) € 59.50 -0.83% Renault (RNO) € 28.59 -0.75% Societe Generale (GLE) € 41.36 -0.70% Alcatel (Paris: FR0000130007 - news) -Lucent (ALU) € 1.90 -0.68%