London's benchmark FTSE 100 index shed almost 0.3 percent to 7,360.40 points, as investors also digested results from energy giant Shell and banking group Barclays.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 dipped 0.2 percent to 12,395.90 points, while the Paris CAC 40 rose nearly 0.1 percent to 5,414.15 compared with Wednesday's close.