European stocks close: stocks closed lower after the mixed U.S. labour market data

Stock indices closed lower after the mixed U.S. labour market data. The U.S. economy added 173,000 jobs in August, missing expectations for a rise of 220,000 jobs, after a gain of 245,000 jobs in July. July's figure was revised up from a rise of 215,000 jobs.

The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 5.1% in August from 5.3% in July, exceeding expectations for a decline to 5.2%. It was the lowest level since April 2008.

Average hourly earnings rose 0.3% in August, beating forecasts of a 0.2% gain, after a 0.2% increase in July.

It remains unclear if the Fed starts raising its interest rate this month.

Meanwhile, the economic data from the Eurozone was mostly negative. Markit Economics released its retail purchasing managers' index (PMI) for Eurozone on Friday. Eurozone's construction purchasing managers' index (PMI) slid to 51.4 in August from 54.2 in July.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the sector.

Sales in Germany increased, while sales in France and Italy declined.

"There was some payback, though the PMI indices for year-on-year sales and gross margins remained close to their recent highs, pointing to solid underlying trends," an economist at Markit, Phil Smith, said.

German seasonal adjusted factory orders dropped 1.4% in July, missing expectations for a 0.6% decline, after a 1.8% rise in June. June's figure was revised down from a 2.0% increase.

The decline was driven by a drop in foreign orders. Foreign orders plunged by 5.2% in July, while domestic orders increased by 4.1%.

New orders from the Eurozone rose 2.2% in July, while orders from other countries slid 9.5%.

French consumer confidence index remained unchanged at 93 in August, missing expectation for a rise to 94.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,042.92 -151.18 -2.44 %

DAX 10,038.04 -279.80 -2.71 %

CAC 40 4,523.08 -130.71 -2.81 %