European stocks close: stocks closed mixed due to the weak manufacturing PMI from the Eurozone and a decline in telecom shares

Stock indices closed mixed due to the weak manufacturing PMI from the Eurozone and a decline in telecom shares. Markit Economics released its final manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the Eurozone on Thursday. Eurozone's final manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 52.0 in September from 52.3 in August, in line with a preliminary reading.

"Despite unprecedented central bank stimulus and substantial currency depreciation, the Eurozone manufacturing sector is failing to achieve significant growth momentum and even risks stalling again," Chris Williamson, Chief Economist at Markit said.

Germany's final manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 52.3 in September from 53.3 in August, down from a preliminary reading of 52.5.

The decline was driven by a fall in input prices.

France's final manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) climbed to 50.6 in September from 48.3 in August, up from the preliminary reading of 50.4.

The increase was mainly driven by a rise in output, which climbed at the fastest pace since March 2014.

Markit Economics released its manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the U.K. on Thursday. The Markit/Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply manufacturing PMI for the U.K. decreased to 51.5 in September from 51.6 in August, beating expectations for a fall to 51.3. August's figure was revised up from 51.5.

The decline was driven by a drop in input prices.

Employment also declined in September.

"The UK manufacturing sector remained sluggish at the end of the third quarter, stunned by a triple combination of a sharp slowdown in consumer spending, weak business investment and stagnating export order inflows. The survey is still broadly consistent with stagnation, or even a mild downturn, when compared to official data," Markit's Senior Economist Rob Dobson said.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,072.47 +10.86 +0.18 %

DAX 9,509.25 -151.19 -1.57 %

CAC 40 4,426.54 -28.75 -0.65 %