LONDON, June 22, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - European stock markets retreated sharply at the open Wednesday, as oil prices tumbled by more than five percent on rising recession fears.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index shed 1.3 percent to 7,057.87 points, with official data showing UK inflation had reached a fresh 40-year high.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX index tumbled 1.8 percent to 13,049.77 points and the Paris CAC 40 slumped 1.8 percent to 5,856.17.