Europe kicks off lower following Monday's rally
Shares on major European stock markets opened Tuesday's session in the red territory after the DAX surged to a record high on Monday as investors mainly focus on economic data. According to Destatis, Germany's trade surplus was at €14.3 billion in January, while traders await data on the Eurozone's gross domestic product that is set to be released during the session.
Investors' concerns over the coronavirus pandemic persist as the Dutch government decided to extend lockdown measures until the end of the month.
The DAX was down by 0.25% at the opening bell with HeidelbergCement AG falling nearly 2% at 9:04 am CET. The FTSE 100 declined 0.25% as well with by Bhp Group losing 3% at the same time, while the CAC 40 in Paris stood flat. The euro gained 0.34% against the greenback, changing hands for 1.18854 at 8:57 am CET, while the British pound advanced 0.45% to go for $1.38804 concurrently.