Stock indices closed mixed ahead of the Fed's interest rate decision today. The results are scheduled to be released at 18:00 GMT. According to analysts' forecasts, the Fed will not raise its interest rate in September due to concerns over a slowdown in the global economy and low inflationary expectations in the U.S.

The Office for National Statistics released its retail sales data for the U.K. on Thursday. Retail sales in the U.K. increased 0.2% in August, in line with expectations, after a 0.1% rise in July.

The higher growth was partly driven by higher sales of clothing and footwear, which climbed 2.3% in August.

Food sales fell 0.9% in August.

On a yearly basis, retail sales in the U.K. climbed 3.7% in August, missing forecasts of 3.8% increase, after a 4.1% rise in July. July's figure was revised down from a 4.2% gain.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,186.99 -42.22 -0.68 %

DAX 10,229.58 +2.37 +0.02 %

CAC 40 4,655.14 +9.30 +0.20 %