Stock indices followed the U.S. stock indices and traded lower. Falling oil prices and concerns over the slowdown in the Chinese economy weigh on global stock markets.

Destatis released its gross domestic product (GDP) growth for Germany on Thursday. Germany's price-adjusted GDP gained by 1.7% year-on-year in 2015, after a 1.6% increase in 2014.

Germany's calendar-adjusted GDP rose by 1.5% year-on-year in 2015, after a 1.6% growth in 2014.

The increase was driven by household consumption.

Household final consumption expenditure climbed by a price-adjusted rate of 1.9% year-on-year in 2015, while government final consumption expenditure jumped by 2.8%.

Price-adjusted exports of goods and services soared 5.4% year-on-year in 2015, while imports rose 5.7%.

The budget surplus was 0.5% of GDP in 2015.

Market participants are awaiting the release of the Bank of England's (BoE) interest rate decision later in the day. Analysts expect the central bank to keep its monetary policy unchanged.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 5,847.37 -113.60 -1.91 %

DAX 9,676.79 -284.17 -2.85 %

CAC 40 4,259.74 -132.20 -3.01 %