European stock markets mid-session: shares decline on German data

European indices are trading lower today as concerns over Greece continue to weigh after the ECB unexpectedly cancelled the acceptance of Greek bonds in return for funding forcing the Greek central bank to provide billions of emergency liquidity for banks in the weeks to come.

Data on German Industrial Production came in below estimates but rose for a fourth consecutive month, adding to expectations that Germany's economy is strengthening. Industrial Production in the Eurozone's biggest economy rose less-than expected last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of +0.1%, short of expectations of +0.4%. The preceding month figure was revised up from -0.1%. Year on year it declined by -0.7%, compared to a reading of -0.5% in the previous period.

U.K.'s trade balance deficit widened to a seasonally adjusted -10.2 billion, from -9.20 billion in the preceding month.

Later in the day Today U.S. data on Average Hourly Earnings, Nonfarm Payrolls and the Unemployment rate (13:30GMT) followed by FOMC member's Dennis Lockhart's speech (17:45GMT) will be in the focus.

The commodity heavy FTSE 100 index is currently trading -0.29% quoted at 6,845.87 points. Germany's DAX 30 lost -0.71% trading at 10,828.51. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 4,686.00 points, -0.37%.