European shares slipped this morning after North Korea said it had carried out an underground nuclear test, but losses were limited by energy stocks ticking up as oil rose above $60 a barrel on the geopolitical concerns.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 0.2 per cent at 1,408.81 points having ended at a five-year closing high on Friday.
Germany's DAX dipped 0.4 per cent, France's CAC 40 was down 0.3 per cent but the FTSE 100 was flat with heavyweight oil stock BP (BP.L: Quote, Profile, Research) up 0.7 per cent.
Japanese financial markets were closed for a public holiday but other Asian asset classes were hit by the North Korea news, with Wall Street's lower close on Friday after mixed jobs data also weighing on markets.