European stocks seen down 2.6-4.4 pct -bookmakers

LONDON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - European shares are set to open sharply lower on Tuesday after U.S. and Asian markets fell as U.S. lawmakers unexpectedly rejected a $700 billion bailout plan for the embattled financial sector.

Financial bookmakers expected Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE to open down 164 to 189 points, or as much as 3.9 percent, Germany's DAX .GDAXI to fall 140 to 149 points, or as much as 2.6 percent, and France's CAC-40 .FCHI to be down 139 to 173 points in the open, or as much as 4.4 percent.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 of top European companies slumped to a three-and-a-half year closing low on Monday, falling 5.2 percent.

The Dow industrials plunged on Monday in its biggest decline ever after the House of Representatives voted down the bailout plan, spooking investors who fear for the future of the global markets and the U.S. economy. (Reporting by Dominic Lau; Editing by Anshuman Daga)