London's benchmark FTSE 100 index shed 1.4 percent to 6,668.50 points awaiting British retail sales data and the outcome of the Bank of England's regular monetary policy meeting.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 lost 1.3 percent to 10,621.18 points and the Paris CAC 40 retreated 1.4 percent to 4,709.75 compared with closing values Wednesday.

Elsewhere Thursday, Tokyo led a rout of Asian shares, mirroring big losses on Wall Street Wednesday after the Federal Reserve defied unprecedented pressure from US President Donald Trump and raised interest rates, sparking fears the move could choke economic growth.