European stocks are expected to open slightly lower Monday, with continued bearish sentiment weighing on investors who have received little direction from a lackluster close on Wall Street Friday and limited trade in Asia. "This quiet mood may well prevail in the near term, with little economic news expected today," said Matt Buckland, a trader at CMC Markets. Buckland saw European indexes opening just a few ticks lower, with London's FTSE 100 falling 28 points, or 0.7%, to 4024. He called Frankfurt's DAX index down 44 points, or 1%, at 4135, and Paris's CAC-40 down 27, or 0.9%, at 2822. With most of Asia closed Monday for the Lunar New Year holiday, Tokyo stocks were in the spotlight, with Japan's key index dipping in and out of negative territory. Japan's Nikkei 225 eventually closed down 0.8% at 7682.14, its lowest closing level since Oct.

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