European stock markets closed lower on Thursday as a slew of worse-than-forecast results and tepid forecasts damped the outlook for corporate health.

Europe's leading Blue-chip index, EURO STOXX 50 fell 5.31 points or 0.16 percent to settle at 3,253.61. Germany's benchmark index DAX declined 31.55 points or 0.27 percent to end at 11,627.95. French benchmark index CAC 40 declined 0.29 points or 0.01 percent to end at 4,794.29.

On the other hand, UK's benchmark index FTSE 100 rose 33.10 points or 0.47 percent to close at 7,140.75.