BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French stocks were modestly lower on Monday as Beijing cancelled planned talks with the Washington and a new round of U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods kicked in, triggering fears of a protracted trade dispute between the world's two largest economies.
Downbeat business confidence data from Germany also weighed on markets. The corresponding index fell to 103.7 from 103.9 in August, survey data from Mannheim-based Ifo institute showed.
The benchmark CAC 40 was down 14 points or 0.25 percent at 5,480 in opening deals after rising 0.9 percent on Friday.
Grocery retailer Carrefour Group bucked the weak trend to rise half a percent after it denied having ever solicited Casino for merger talks. Casino shares fell over 2 percent.
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