European stocks close: stocks closed mixed on the ECB’s interest rate decision

Stock closed slightly mixed after the release of the European Central Bank's (ECB) interest rate decision. The central bank kept its interest rate unchanged as widely expected by analysts. The ECB will start to buy corporate bonds on June 08.

The ECB raised its inflation and growth forecasts. Inflation in the Eurozone is expected to be 0.2% in 2016, up from its March estimate of 0.1%, 1.3% in 2017, unchanged from its March estimate, and 1.6% in 2018, unchanged from its March estimate. The central bank expects the economy in the Eurozone to expand 1.6% in 2016, up from its March estimate of 1.4%, 1.7% in 2017, unchanged from its March estimate, and 1.7% in 2018, down from its March estimate of 1.8%.

Market participants also eyed the economic data from the Eurozone. Eurostat released its producer price index for the Eurozone on Thursday. Eurozone's producer price index declined 0.3% in April, missing expectations for a 0.1% rise, after a 0.3% increase in March.

On a yearly basis, Eurozone's producer price index dropped 4.4% in April, missing expectations for a 4.1% decline, after a 4.1% fall in March. March's figure was revised up from a 4.2% drop.

Eurozone's producer prices excluding energy fell 1.2% year-on-year in April, after a 1.1% decline in March. Energy prices dropped at an annual rate of 12.5% in April.

Markit's and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply's construction purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the U.K. dropped to 51.2 in May from 52.0 in April. It was the lowest level since June 2013. Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged at 52.0.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the construction sector.

The decline was mainly driven by a drop in new orders.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,185.61 -6.32 -0.10 %

DAX 10,208 +3.56 +0.03 %

CAC 40 4,466 -9.39 -0.21 %