European stocks finished lower Wednesday, as analysts fretted that U.S. military action against Syria could spook markets. A pan-European equity benchmark continued to show a small weekly gain, helped by worries receding over the ongoing trade skirmish between China and the U.S., the world's two largest economies.

U.S. stocks closed lower on Wednesday as investors assessed rising geopolitical tensions. Major indexes came under pressure in early trade after tweets from President Donald Trump suggested he was preparing for a military strike in Syria and underlined a tense relationship with Russia.

Asian stocks fell Thursday as Syria tensions and hawkish statements from the Federal Reserve prompted caution among investors while China's Commerce Ministry kept trade tensions simmering. Shares in Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney and Taipei edged down in choppy trading, though the declines didn't match the 0.9% slide in the Dow Jones Industrial Average overnight.