LONDON (Oct 20): European stock markets slid at the start of trade on Monday, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index down 0.12 percent at 6,302.57 points.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 index shed 0.35 percent to 8,819.26 points and the CAC 40 in Paris dipped 0.23 percent to 4,023.76 compared with Friday's closing level.

"It looks like the volatility in equity markets may not yet be over," said analyst James Hughes at trading firm Alpari.

"US and European markets staged an impressive comeback on Friday, managing to help lead a recovery to the correction.

"However we cannot yet rest easy and get back into the long-term buying trend, with a whole host of economic data due for release this week."

In Paris shares in advertising group Havas jumped 6.20 percent to 6.06 euros after its main shareholder, French conglomerate Bollore, announced a takeover bid. Shares in Bollore fell by 7.05 percent to 352.15 euros.

Markets were rocked by panic last week, as traders fretted over the health of the global economy, and fears of a possible recession in the eurozone.

However, European equities had surged on Friday as investors snapped up bargains, ending a roller-coaster week marked by alarm over global growth, a reemergence of eurozone tensions and the spreading Ebola virus.

Asian stocks rallied on Monday following a rise in New York at the end of last week, with Tokyo surging almost four percent thanks also to a weaker yen.

While the gains will come as some relief after the ups and downs of last week, traders are nervously watching the release of Chinese economic growth data later in the week for fear of another weak figure.

China will publish third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data on Tuesday.