European stocks close: stocks traded lower as the latest Fed’s minutes weighed stock markets

Stock closed lower on the Fed's minutes. The Fed released its April monetary policy meeting minutes on Wednesday. The minutes showed that most Fed officials would support an interest rate hike in June if the U.S. economy continued to improve.

Oil prices also weighed on stock markets. Oil prices traded lower on a stronger U.S. dollar and on U.S. crude inventories data. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Wednesday, U.S. crude inventories rose by 1.3 million barrels to 541.3 million in the week to May 13. Analysts had expected U.S. crude oil inventories to decline by 3.16 million barrels.

The European Central Bank's (ECB) its minutes of April meeting on Thursday. The minutes said that members agreed there was a need to counter criticism on the central bank's actions. The central bank noted that the recent stimulus measures needed more time to take effect. According to the minutes, the downside risks to the economic growth in the Eurozone remained but moderated somewhat.

The Office for National Statistics released its retail sales data for the U.K. on Thursday. Retail sales in the U.K. climbed 1.3% in April, exceeding expectations for a 0.5% gain, after a 0.5% decline in March. March's figure was revised up from a 1.3% decrease.

Food sales were up 0.1% in April, while non-food store sales increased 2.5%.

On a yearly basis, retail sales in the U.K. jumped 4.3% in April, beating forecasts of a 2.5% increase, after a 3.0% rise in March. March's figure was revised up from a 2.7% gain.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,053.35 -112.45 -1.82 %

DAX 9,795.89 -147.34 -1.48 %

CAC 40 4,282.54 -36.76 -0.85 %