European stock markets mid session: stocks traded mixed ahead of the release of the European Central Bank's monetary meeting results

Stock indices traded mixed ahead of the release of the European Central Bank's (ECB) monetary meeting results. A speech by the ECB President Mario Draghi will be closely monitored for signals of further quantitative easing. The inflation in the Eurozone remains at low levels, and several ECB officials expressed concerns over the low inflation.

Meanwhile, the economic data from the Eurozone was mixed. The French statistical office Insee released its manufacturing confidence index for France on Thursday. The French manufacturing confidence index decreased to 103 in October from 104 in September. September's reading was the highest level since August 2011.

The Spanish statistical office INE released its labour market figures on Thursday. The number of registered unemployed people fell by 298,200 in the third quarter to 4.85 million.

The unemployment rate was 21.2% in the third quarter, down from 22.4% in the second quarter. It was the lowest level in four years.

The Office for National Statistics released its retail sales data for the U.K. on Thursday. Retail sales in the U.K. increased 1.9% in September, exceeding expectations for a 0.3% gain, after a 0.4% decline in August. August's figure was revised down from a 0.2% increase.

The Rugby World Cup in England and Wales supported the retail sales in September.

Food prices climbed 2.3% in September. It was the highest gain since April 2014.

On a yearly basis, retail sales in the U.K. climbed 6.5% in September, beating forecasts of 4.8% increase, after a 3.5% rise in August. August's figure was revised down from a 3.7% gain.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,340.83 -7.59 -0.12 %

DAX 10,254.69 +16.59 +0.16 %

CAC 40 4,690.43 -4.67 -0.10 %