European stocks traded in the red zone after yesterday reached the highest level since January. Selling influenced by increased caution of investors on the eve of the FOMC meeting.

"Investors have traditionally been cautious in anticipation of the Fed's verdict, especially today, given expectations of a interest rate hike, as well as updated forecasts for further rate hikes in the US, which is likely to affect pricing across all asset classes", - said Accendo Markets analyst Mike van Dulko.

Recall the results of the December Fed meeting will be announced today at 19:00 GMT.

Some influence on the course of trading also provided statistical data from the UK and the eurozone. The Office for National Statistics said that the number of people employed in the UK has fallen for the first time in more than a year, reflecting a slowdown in the labor market after Brexit. According to the data, the unemployment rate in the period from August to October remained at around 4.8 percent, which corresponds to the forecast of economists. However, the number of employed decreased by 6,000, recording the first decline since the second quarter of last year. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed decreased by 16,000 from August to October, as fewer people looked for work. The ONS also said that the number of applications for unemployment benefits rose by 2,400 in November after increasing by 13,300 in October (revised to 9800). Economists had expected the index to rise by 5 000. Meanwhile, the salary for the period from August to October showed strong growth. The total income of employees, including bonuses, rose by 2.5 per cent per annum, compared with an increase of 2.4 percent in the three months to September. Last growth rate was the highest in over a year.

The report submitted by Eurostat, showed that the seasonally adjusted volume of industrial production in the euro area fell in October by 0.1% after falling 0.9% in the previous month (revised from -0.8%). The experts predicted an increase of 0.2%. Meanwhile, industrial production in the EU fell by 0.3% after falling 0.7% the previous month. On an annual basis, industrial production increased by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU. It was expected that production in the euro zone will grow by 0.8% after rising 1.3% in September (revised from + 1.2%).

The composite index of the largest companies in the region Stoxx Europe 600 trading lower by 0.45 per cent after yesterday recorded a growth of 1.06 percent. 16 out of 19 industry groups showing a decrease, led by the health sector and the mining segment. Shares of oil companies are getting cheaper for the first time in six days, in response to the decline of oil prices.

Capitalization of Actelion Ltd fell 5.9 percent after Johnson & Johnson announced that it has completed the discussion of the potential transaction with the Swiss drugmaker.

Inditex shares decreased by 2.8 percent, despite reports that the net profit for the first nine months (February to October) increased by 9% to 2.2 billion euros.

Securities of Monte dei Paschi di Siena fell to 1.7 percent, as the Italian lender confirmed that the ECB has rejected a request to extend the deadline for raising funds.

Metro shares rose 4.8% on news that the company's profit before tax and one-off factors in the 4th increased by 31%, to 568 million euros, beating analysts' forecast.

At the moment:

FTSE 100 6956.93 -11.64 -0.17%

DAX -34.71 11249.94 -0.31%

CAC 40 4772.43 -31.44 -0.65%