Stock indices closed slightly lower as investors are awaiting the release of Fed's minutes. Investors hope to get insight how the Fed plans to tighten its monetary policy. The Fed may start to hike its interest rate in June. It is unclear how the Fed want to raise its interest rate.

Retail sales in the Eurozone fell 0.2% in February, missing expectations for a 0.1% decrease, after a 0.9% gain in January. January's figure was revised down from a 1.1% rise.

The decline was driven by lower gasoline sales and lower sales of food and drinks.

On a yearly basis, retail sales in the Eurozone rose 3.0% in February, after a 3.2% increase in January. January's figure was revised down from a 3.7% gain.

German seasonal adjusted factory orders decreased 0.9% in February, missing expectations for a 1.5% increase, after a 2.6% drop in January. January's figure was revised up from a 3.9% decline.

Concerns over Greece's debt problems continue to weigh on markets. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow today.

The Bank of England released its quarterly Credit Conditions Survey on Wednesday. U.K. lenders expect the demand for secured lending for house purchase to increase in the second quarter of 2015.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,937.41 -24.36 -0.35 %

DAX 12,035.86 -87.66 -0.72 %

CAC 40 5,136.86 -14.33 -0.28 %