London's benchmark FTSE 100 index slid 0.6 percent to 6,959.04 points compared with the close on Tuesday.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index dropped 0.9 percent to 11,868.08 points and the Paris CAC 40 shed 0.8 percent to 5,073.42.

Asian equities also resumed their downward spiral on Wednesday following a selloff on Wall Street, which was pummelled by a pullback in technology shares.