European stocks plunge in early trade

European stock markets plunged further on Tuesday, as a sharp jump in Chinese inflation added to fears of a new sharp downturn for the global economy. London's benchmark FTSE 100 index slumped 3.52 percent, Frankfurt's DAX 30 shed 2.35 percent and the Paris CAC 40 lost 2.44 percent. Madrid gave up 1.36 percent and Milan slid 1.18 percent, as both indices reversed solid opening gains. China, which is the world's second biggest economy, said Tuesday that its inflation rate rose in July to its highest level in more than three years. China's consumer price index rose 6.5 percent last month compared to a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a statement, the highest level since June 2008 when it reached 7.1 percent. Some analysts are concerned Beijing might go too far in tightening monetary policy and trigger a sharp slowdown in the Chinese economy -- which could have dire consequences around the globe. Asian stock markets closed sharply lower on Tuesday, a day after equities had plummeted around the world on growing growth and debt strains.