European stock markets recovered slightly at the start of trading on Thursday, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index up 0.1 percent to 7,193.69 points.

Traders work in front of a board displaying Germany's share index DAX. (File photo: AFP)

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index won 0.4 percent to 11,885.07 points and the Paris CAC 40 gained 0.4 percent to 5,241.95, compared with Wednesday's closing levels.