European stock markets are trading sharply lower on Friday. Europe's leading Blue-chip index, EURO STOXX 50 declined 52.75 points or 1.61 percent to trade at 3,217.34.

While UK's benchmark index FTSE 100 declined 83.85 points or 1.35 percent to trade at 6,110.25. Germany's benchmark index DAX declined 158.10 points or 1.53 percent to trade at 10,159.74.

Meanwhile, French benchmark index CAC 40 fell 68.94 points or 1.48 percent to trade at 4,584.85.

On Thursday, European stock markets settled sharply higher. Europe's leading Blue-chip index, EURO STOXX 50 jumped 71.23 points or 2.18 percent to settle at 3,270.09. UK's benchmark index FTSE 100 went up 110.79 points or 1.79 percent to close at 6,194.10.