European stock markets mid session: stocks traded lower on a decline in oil prices

Stock indices traded lower on a fall in oil prices. Market participants are awaiting the release of the European Central Bank's (ECB) March minutes later in the day. The central bank cut its interest rate to 0.00% from 0.05% and deposit rate to -0.4% from -0.3% in March. The ECB also expanded its monthly purchases to €80 billion from €60 billion).

ECB Vice President Vitor Constancio said before the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament on Thursday that the central bank was doing and would continue to do everything to fulfil its mandate.

ECB Executive Board member Peter Praet said in a speech on Thursday that the central bank's monetary policy adopted since June 2014 was effective.

He pointed out that the ECB could add further stimulus measures if the downside risks increase.

"If further adverse shocks were to materialise, our measures could be recalibrated once more commensurate with the strength of the headwind, also taking into account possible side-effects," Praet said.

He noted that the central bank did not discussed helicopter money.

Halifax released its house prices data for the U.K. on Thursday. House prices in the U.K. climbed 2.6% in March, after a 1.5% decline in February. February's figure was revised down from a 1.4% fall.

On a yearly basis, house prices jumped 10.1% in the three months to March, after a 9.7% increase in the three months to February.

"Worsening sentiment regarding the prospects for the UK economy and uncertainty ahead of the European referendum in June could result in some softening in the housing market over the next couple of months," Halifax's housing economist Martin Ellis said.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,158.57 -3.06 -0.05 %

DAX 9,603.21 -21.30 -0.22 %

CAC 40 4,269.09 -15.55 -0.36 %