European stock markets remain unchanged

European stock markets were little changed Monday as investors weighed the chances of more stimulus measures from the US Federal Reserve, and ahead of another busy week for the eurozones debt crisis.Londons FTSE 100 index of top companies added just 0.08 percent to 5,799.46 points in afternoon trading, Frankfurts DAX 30 index gained 0.05 percent to 7,217.79 points and in Paris the CAC 40 fell 0.15 percent to 3,513.88 points.In foreign exchange activity, the European single currency dipped to $1.2791 on profit-taking following an impressive pre-weekend rally.The euro had surged to $1.2817 on Friday, hitting the highest level since May 22, after weaker-than-expected non-farm payrolls data in the United States.In the US, stocks opened slightly lower Monday, with the Dow Jones Index down 0.22 percent in the first five minutes of trade, the S&P 500 off 0.12 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq shed 0.13 percent.Wall Street was trading in cautious action ahead of Thursdays conclusion of the two-day monetary policy meeting by the Federal Reserve, with Fridays lackluster domestic labor report boosting expectations that the central bank will announce further economic stimulus measures, Charles Schwab & Co. analysts said.Global equities and the euro had also rebounded last week after European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi announced it could buy unlimited amounts of debt from troubled nations like Spain and Italy in a bid to lower borrowing costs.Investors focus now switches to Germanys Constitutional Court, which on Wednesday is due to decide whether German President Joachim Gauck can sign into law the eurozones key crisis-fighting tools that include the European Stability Mechanism.Other key events that will dictate investor sentiment include the US Federal Reserves interest rate decision on Thursday and the Dutch general election on Wednesday.Last Friday, the US Labor Department revealed that just 96,000 jobs were added last month, convincing many that the Fed would act in its policy meeting this Thursday with another round of bond purchases, or quantitative easing.Asian equities traded mixed on Monday, as stimulus hopes were overshadowed by growth concerns in China and the United States.Hong Kong shares gained just 0.13 percent and Shanghai won 0.34 percent, while Tokyo ended flat and Seoul shed 0.25 percent.Chinas trade surplus widened to $26.7 billion in August as imports registered a surprise fall, data showed Monday, adding to expectations of a new round of stimulus measures.The figures highlight waning strength in the worlds second-largest economy, as the broader global slowdown and the European debt crisis dragged on exports which remained weak.Exports increased 2.7 percent in August year-on-year to $178 billion, the General Administration of Customs said in a statement on its website. Imports fell 2.6 percent to $151.3 billion.