Stock markets hit pause button after big gains

Investors hit the pause button on Europe's main stock markets and on Wall Street on Thursday despite gains elsewhere as they paused for breath following bumper gains earlier in the week. A day after hitting a 2016 high on strong Chinese trade data London's benchmark FTSE 100 index dipped 0.1 percent in cautious trade after the Bank of England said it was keeping its key lending rate at a record low 0.50 percent, where it has stood since March 2009. In addition to posting its unanimous decision t