Stock indices traded lower as oil prices declined. Oil prices fell on concerns over the global oil oversupply.
Market participants also eyed economic data from Germany. Destatis released its manufacturing turnover data for Germany on Wednesday. Manufacturing turnover declined on seasonally adjusted and on adjusted for working days basis by 1.1% in March, after a 0.2% fall in February. February's figure was revised down up a 0.5% decrease.
Domestic turnover decreased by 1.3% in March, while the business with foreign customers dropped 0.8%.
Sales to euro area countries fell 0.5% in March, while sales to other countries were down 1.1%.
On a yearly basis, real manufacturing turnover in Germany was up on adjusted for working days basis by 0.7% in March, after a 1.8% rise in February.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released its manufacturing and industrial production figures for the U.K. on Wednesday. Industrial production in the U.K. rose 0.3% in March, missing forecasts of a 0.5% increase, after a 0.2% fall in February. February's figure was revised up from a 0.3% decline.
The increase was mainly driven by a rise in electricity, gas, steam & air conditioning output, which climbed by 3.3% in March.
On a yearly basis, industrial production in the U.K. decreased 0.2% in March, beating expectations for a 0.4% drop, after a 0.1% increase in February. February's figure was revised up from a 0.5% fall.
The decline was driven by a drop in manufacturing, which slid 1.9% year-on-year in March.
Manufacturing production in the U.K. was up 0.1% in March, missing expectations for a 0.3% gain, after a 0.9% decline in February. February's figure was revised up from a 1.1% decrease.
The rise was mainly driven by an increase in manufacture of transport equipment, which rose by 2.7% in March.
On a yearly basis, manufacturing production in the U.K. decreased 1.9% in March, in line with forecasts, after a 1.6% drop in February. It was the largest decrease since May 2013.
Current figures:
Name Price Change Change %
FTSE 100 6,143.67 -12.98 -0.21 %
DAX 9,980.65 -64.79 -0.64 %
CAC 40 4,296.03 -42.18 -0.97 %