Brexit - and beer.

With one apparently on pause on Wednesday ...

Markets shifted their focus to the other.

Heineken - the world's second-largest brewer - lowering forecasts ...

Because of an unexpected dip in American markets.

It's a tiny downgrade in expected profit growth - from mid single digits to 4 per cent ...

But it was enough to send its shares down nearly three per cent.

Other fallers in early trade:

French supermarket chain Carrefour - on slower third-quarter sales ...

Carmaker PSA after marking down its outlook.

And tech stocks.

STMicroelectronics, Dialog Semiconductor and Infineon all suffered ...

After US sector peer Texas Instruments forecast revenues well below estimates ....

Amid signs that trade tensions are squeezing chip demand.

As for Brexit ....

Lawmakers on Tuesday rejected Boris Johnson's legislative timetable - Britain may now be on course to a general election.

That is - if the EU grants an extension to an October 31st Brexit deadline.

France, for one, says that'll only happen if there's good enough reason.

French Europe minister, Amelie de Montchalin.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH EUROPE MINISTER, AMELIE DE MONTCHALIN, SAYING:

"The French position is that we cannot extend indefinitely and remain spectators of a process which is going nowhere."

Caught in the confusion, sterling was going down ...

Slipping off recent highs around one dollar 30 ....

After falling over half a per cent on Tuesday.