European stock markets mid session: stocks traded lower as the weaker-than-expected Chinese manufacturing data continued to weigh

Stock indices traded lower as the weaker-than-expected Chinese manufacturing data continued to weigh.

Meanwhile, the economic data from Eurozone was mixed. Eurostat released its consumer price inflation data for the Eurozone on Tuesday. The preliminary consumer price inflation in the Eurozone remained unchanged at an annual rate of 0.2% in December, missing expectations for a rise to 0.4%.

The preliminary consumer price inflation excluding food, energy, alcohol, and tobacco remained unchanged at an annual rate of 0.9% in December, in line with expectations.

Food, alcohol and tobacco prices were up 1.2% in December, non-energy industrial goods prices gained 0.5%, and services prices climbed 1.1%, while energy prices dropped 5.9%.

The Federal Labour Agency released its unemployment figures for Germany on Tuesday. The number of unemployed people in Germany fell by 14,000 in December, exceeding expectations for a 7,000 decline, after a 14,000 decrease in November. November's figure was revised up from a 13,000 decline.

The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.3% in December, in line with expectations.

Markit's and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply's construction purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the U.K. rose to 57.8 in December from 55.3 in November, exceeding expectations for an increase to 56.0.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the construction sector.

The index was driven by a rise in commercial construction.

"UK construction companies finished 2015 in a positive fashion, as overall output growth recovered from November's seven-month low. Commercial building was the main engine of growth, with this area of activity expanding at the strongest pace since autumn 2014. There was also a rebound in house building activity in December, but momentum was still much softer than the post-crisis highs achieved during 2014," Senior Economist at Markit, Tim Moore, said.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,086.96 -6.47 -0.11 %

DAX 10,207.13 -76.31 -0.74 %

CAC 40 4,495.56 -26.89 -0.59 %