In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 lost 0.3 percent to 12,002.78 points and the Paris CAC 40 shed almost 0.1 percent to 5,255.28, compared with the closing levels on Wednesday.

Asian equities also suffered fresh losses on Thursday, extending the previous day's rout as concerns about contagion from emerging markets fray investor nerves.

Investor sentiment was also dented by the possibility of further US tariffs on China.