[LONDON] Europe's main stock markets tumbled on Wednesday, the first trading day of the new year.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index shed 1.3 per cent to 6,642.75 points.

In the eurozone, the Paris CAC 40 retreated 1.9 per cent to 4,642.18 points and Frankfurt's DAX 30 lost 0.8 per cent to 10,477.77.

AFP