European markets lower as sentiment struggles ahead of ECB meeting

This is CNBC's live blog covering European markets.

European stocks were lower Tuesday as markets struggle to find positive momentum ahead of the European Central Bank meeting later this week.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was down 0.1% in early afternoon trade, with the vast majority of sectors trading in the red. Mining stocks sank 0.9% while utilities added 1.2%

The ECB is expected to hold interest rates steady on Thursday even as inflation shows more signs of easing.

Asia-Pacific markets are mixed as China's "Two Sessions" meeting got under way, with investors watching out for the details of its economic plans after the country projected a gross domestic product growth target of "around 5%" for 2024.

The country is set to boost its defense spending by 7.2% in 2024. It expects the inflation rate to rise to "around 3%."

U.S. stock futures ticked lower Monday night after the Nasdaq Composite retreated from its record high. 

The three major indexes opened Tuesday's session lower, placing the market on track for another down day.

The Dow was was down 0.3% shortly after opening bell. The S&P 500 slipped 0.4%, while the Nasdaq Composite shed 0.8%.

— Alex Harring

Frankfurt-listed shares of Tesla fell 2.4% in early afternoon trade, after the company's plant outside of Berlin was reportedly forced to halt production following a suspected arson attack at a nearby electricity substation.

Tesla's U.S.-listed shares were 2% lower in premarket trade.

Tesla confirmed that its Gruenheide factory had paused production and was evacuated Tuesday morning, according to Reuters. Brandenburg police told CNBC that the damage to an electricity pylon in the Gosen-Neu Zittau area initially looked like arson and added that it is currently investigating