European Markets Close Weak On Rate Uncertainty, Growth Concerns

European stocks closed broadly lower on Thursday, weighed down by concerns about Trump administration's trade policy, and uncertainty about the outlook for Federal Reserve's interest rates. Investors digested regional data, and the latest batch of economic data from the U.S.

The pan European Stoxx 600 ended down by about 0.7%. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 closed down by 0.39%, Germany's DAX settled lower by 0.56% and France's CAC 40 drifted down 0.41%. Switzerland's SMI closed 0.86% down.

Among other markets in Europe, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain and Sweden closed weak.

Austria, Ireland and Turkiye ended higher.

In the UK market, Convatec Group closed down by 5.6% after the US launched investigations into imports of robotics, industrial machinery, and medical devices.

Phoenix Group Holdings ended lower by 5.4%. AstraZeneca, Barclays, DCC, Ashtead Group, Howden Joinery, Experian and Natwest Group lost 2 to 2.25%.

Standard Chartered, Spirax Group, Berkeley Group Holdings, Marks & Spencer, Antofagasta, Schroders, ICG, M&G and Fresnillo also declined sharply.

Rio Tinto rallied more than 3.5%. 3i Group, Entain, Beazley, Smiths Group, Imperial Brands, Halma, British American Tobacco and Shell also ended notably higher.