Europe open: Shares mixed but Stoxx nears record territory

(Sharecast News) - European shares were mixed at the open on Tuesday as investors paused for breath after the bank and defence-stock rally in the previous session. The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was up 0.10% to 572, nudging towards record territory. Germany's DAX was down 0.06%, France's CAC 40 gained 0.13%, Spain's IBEX was up 0.02% and Italy's FTSE MIB rose 0.53%.

Britain's FTSE 100 increased by 0.31% despite data showing UK government borrowing last month rose to its highest amount in five years, putting pressure on Finance Minister Rachel Reeves ahead of her budget next week.

Public sector net borrowing hit £20.2bn in September, up £1.6bn year on year, the Office for National Statistics said. Economists had forecast a figure of £20.8bn.

In equity news, shares in Edenred surged after the French voucher and benefit cards provider's third quarter sales beat forecasts.

Lab testing firm Eurofins Scientific slumped after results.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com