European stock markets started the new day with a negative trend.
After the opening, the Stoxx Europe 600 benchmark index fell 1.3 percent to 505 points, while the DAX 40 index in Germany fell 1.1 percent to 17,887 points.
The FTSE 100 index in the UK lost 0.3 percent to 8,260 points, the MIB 30 index in Italy fell 1.3 percent to 32,444 points, the CAC 40 index in France fell 0.5 percent to 7,336 points and the IBEX 35 index in Spain lost 0.3 percent to 10,823 points.
The euro/dollar pair is currently trading at 1.0810, 0.2 percent above its previous close.
Analysts said that global stock markets are on a negative course due to concerns that economic activity in the US may slow down more sharply than expected and news flow that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) may raise interest rates further, and that the data in the US employment report has become the focus of investors today.
The Bank of England (BoE) lowered its policy rate by 25 basis points to 5 percent at its monetary policy meeting yesterday.
BoE Governor Andrew Bailey stated in his post-meeting statements that the decision to cut the policy rate by 25 basis points was taken in a very balanced manner, but avoided giving a clear signal about possible rate cuts for the rest of the year.
While pricing in money markets indicates that the BoE is likely to cut interest rates again in November, there is a 95 percent probability that the European Central Bank (ECB) will cut interest rates again in September despite mixed inflation data.
Analysts say the US employment report, factory orders and durable goods orders will be on the agenda today.
