European stocks close: stocks traded little changed ahead the European Central Bank’s interest rate decision

Stock indices traded little changed ahead the European Central Bank’s interest rate decision on Thursday. Investors are awaiting the ECB will cut interest rates and announce measures to boost lending to smaller businesses.

Services PMIs were also in focus in the Eurozone. Eurozone’s services purchase managers’ index (PMI) declined to 53.2 in May from 53.5 in April. Analysts had expected that the index remains unchanged.

Eurozone’s gross domestic product remained unchanged at 0.2% in the first quarter, meeting analysts’ expectation.

Eurozone’s producer price index fell 0.1% in April, after a 0.2% decline in March. This figure was expected by analysts.

German final services PMI declined to 56.0 in May from 56.4 in April. Analysts had expected that the index remains unchanged.

French final services PMI sank to 49.1 in May from 49.2 in April. Analysts had expected that the index remains unchanged.

Indexes on the close:

Name                                   Price                                    Change                 Change %

FTSE 100                             6,818.63                              -17.67                       -0.26%

DAX                                     9,926.67                                +6.93                      +0.07%

CAC 40                                4,501.00                                 -2.69                      -0.06%