US, Europe stock markets fall 0.5% in minutes, leaving traders perplexed

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. and European stock markets saw a sudden 0.5% drop in hefty volumes around 1130 GMT on Tuesday, leaving traders scratching their heads and one calling it a "micro flash crash".

Nasdaq stock futures fell 0.5% in four minutes while the S&P 500 e-mini futures fell 0.4%, but later recouped some of those losses. Europe's benchmark STOXX 600 index turned negative and traded 0.6% lower as of 1211 GMT.