Global stock markets were generally slightly lower Thursday, AP reported. European stocks opened mixed. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.4 percent in early trading to 7,395.31 while France's CAC 40 added 0.1 percent to 5,355.68. Germany's DAX retreated 0.3 percent to 12,972.07. Chinese stocks fell sharply on reports that the government is moving to rein in online lending firms. Investors also pulled back after Hong Kong's Hang Seng index hit a 10-year high Wednesday to take profits. The Shanghai Composite Index sank 2.3 percent to 3,351.92, its lowest level since September, while the Hang Seng slumped 1 percent to 29,707.94. Other Asian markets finished generally flat. South Korea's Kospi finished 0.1 percent lower at 2,537.15 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 finished unchanged at 5,986.20. Stocks in Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries were mixed. Japan was closed for a holiday. The price of oil retreated after a jump on reports that key oil producers might extend the cuts in production they made at the start of this year. U.S. crude fell 20 cents to $57.82 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Wednesday, the contract rose $1.19, or 2.1 percent, to $58.02 a barrel. Brent crude, used to price international oils, lost 31 cents to $63.01 per barrel in London. It gained 75 cents, or 1.2 percent, the previous day to $63.32 a barrel. The dollar rose to 111.27 yen from 111.24 yen. The euro rose to $1.1843 from $1.1819.
