Britain's blue-chips lost ground on Friday as European economic data disappointed and commodity prices kept falling.
The FTSE 100 Index was 3.64 points adrift at 6651 just after the first hour of trading in London.
Germany's Dax was 13 points down but France's CAC-40 was slightly up.
Business survey data from economic researchers Markit showed the pace of eurozone economic growth slowing slightly in July, though the rate of expansion remained one of the strongest seen in the past four years.
By country, output growth slowed in Germany, albeit merely to a two-month low, while a three-month low was seen in France.
But there was good news elsewhere in the region as expansion rates accelerated, pushing the pace of growth further ahead of both France and Germany although failing to match peaks earlier in the year.
Oil prices were on the slide again, with US light crude dropping 1.5% to US$48.45 a barrel and Brent off 1.6% at US$55.27.
BP (LON:BP.) was flat at 401p but shares in Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSB) shed 6p to 1792p. BG Group (LON:BG.) also deflated 2.5p to 1051p.
The Footsie followed the lead set by Asian stocks overnight, where disappointing Chinese manufacturing data sent stocks crashing.
In the US, where the Dow lost 119 points, at 17,732, job data led to an increased concern that the Fed may raise interest rates as early as September.
Gold prices continued to fall, down 1% at US$1,083 an ounce, hitting shares in Randgold Resources (LON:RRS) by 7p to 3817p.
Anglo American (LON:AAL) ticked up 7.3p to 813.7p after the mining giant said currency weakness in the countries where it operates and cost savings had partly offset a a 36% fall in half-year earnings due to lower commodity prices.
Publishing group Pearson (LON:PSON), which on Thursday announced the sale of the FT to Nikkei for £844mln, gained 37p to 1271p after reporting a 1% sales rise to £2.2bn reflecting growth in North America, Brazil and China.
Bookie Ladbrokes (LON:LAD) lost 2.5p to 125.8p as it confirmed plans for a merger with rival Gala Coral.
Power generator rental group Aggreko (LON:AGK) plunged 217p or 15% to 1213p as it warned on first half and annual profits.
It blamed security problems in Yemen and another slowdown in its North American oil & gas-related business.