European equities were seen edging back from the previous session's hefty gains on Wednesday with a rebound in commodity prices expected to help mining and energy shares buck the trend.
Financial bookmakers, or spread betters, in London expected Britain's FTSE 100 index to open between 21 and 27 points lower, with Germany's DAX seen down 1 point to up 6 points, and the French CAC 40 down 5 to 11 points.
The Dow closed weaker after a report from the Conference Board on Tuesday showed consumer confidence fell sharply in March.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares gained 3.2 percent on Tuesday, closing at 1,266.03 points and narrowing its losses so far in 2008 to 16 percent, as banking shares rallied following the raised buyout offer for troubled Wall Street firm Bear Stearns