European stock markets are trading lower on Thursday on Thursday, against a background of the impending summit between President Trump and China's Xi Jinping, and following a hawkish set of minutes from the US Federal Reserve.

Europe's leading Blue-chip index, EURO STOXX 50 lost 15.97 points or 0.46 percent to trade at 3,456.61. UK's benchmark index FTSE 100 declined 34.17 points or 0.47 percent to trade at 7,297.51.

Meanwhile, Germany's benchmark index DAX lost 64.13 points or 0.52 percent to trade at 12,153.41. French benchmark index CAC 40 declined 18.59 points or 0.37 percent to trade at 5,073.26.

On Wednesday, European stock markets settled lower. Europe's leading Blue-chip index, EURO STOXX 50 declined 9.08 points or 0.26 percent to settle at 3,472.58. Germany's benchmark index DAX fell 64.80 points or 0.53 percent to end at 12,217.54. French benchmark index CAC 40 lost 9.28 points or 0.18 percent to end at 5,091.85.