Stock indices closed lower as bank shares declined.

Mostly weak economic data from the Eurozone also weighed on markets. German industrial production declined 0.1% in November, missing forecasts of a 0.4% rise, after a 0.6% gain in October. October's figure was revised up from a 0.2% increase.

Germany's trade surplus decreased to €17.7 billion in November from €20.8 billion in October, missing expectations for a decline to €19.6 billion. October's figure was revised up from a surplus of €20.6 billion.

France's trade deficit narrowed to €3.2 billion in November from €4.6 billion in October, beating expectations for a decline to a deficit of €4.5 billion.

Industrial production in France declined 0.3% in November, missing expectations for a 0.4% gain, after a 0.7% drop in October. October's figure was revised up from a 0.8% decline.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,501.14 -68.82 -1.05%

DAX 9,648.5 -189.11 -1.92%

CAC 40 4,179.07 -81.12 -1.90%

U.S. stock-index futures rose as employment gained more than forecast in December and the jobless rate declined.

Global markets:

Nikkei 17,197.73 +30.63 +0.18%

Hang Seng 23,919.95 +84.42 +0.35%

Shanghai Composite 3,287.43 -6.03 -0.18%

FTSE 6,544.91 -25.05 -0.38%

CAC 4,244.83 -15.36 -0.36%

DAX 9,818.71 -18.90 -0.19%

Crude oil $48.63 (-0.27%)

Gold $1213.80 (+0.45%)