Markets in Europe were lower at 6.15 AM New York time.

The FTSE was off .9% to 6,374. BP (BP) was down 1.1% to 693. BHP Billiton (BHP) was off 1.1% to 1600. Nothern Rock was off 5% to 132.3

The DAXX fell .9% to 7,716. SAP (SAP) was off 1.4% to 34.77. Siemens (SI) was down 1.9% to 98.9.

The CAC 40 dropped 1.3% to 5,541. Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) fell 2.2% to 5.73. AXA (AXA) fell 2.9% to 27.38. Vivendi fell 2.1% to 29.52.

Data from Reuters

Douglas A. McIntyre