European stocks finish Thursday at 7-month low

ISTANBUL

European stock exchanges closed Thursday with losses, plummeting to their lowest levels in seven months.

The STOXX Europe 600, which includes around 90% of the market capitalization of the European markets in 17 countries, fell 5.29 points, or 1.19%, to finish the day at 439.73 -- its lowest since March.

The UK’s FTSE 100 dropped 88 points, or 1.17%, to 7,499 while there was limited trading for a period of time due to an "incident."

"The London Stock Exchange is currently investigating an incident. Currently only FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and IOB securities are available for trading," the London Stock Exchange Group said in a statement at 3.26 p.m. local time.

"FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and IOB securities closed as normal. London Stock Exchange has invoked a Halt & Close for affected instruments. A closing price for the affected securities has been set and disseminated," it later said at 5.05 p.m.

Germany’s DAX 30, meanwhile, decreased 49 points, or 0.33%, to finish the day at 15,045. France’s CAC 40 also fell 44 points, or 0.64%, to 6,921.

Italy’s FTSE MIB was the worst performer of the day, plummeting 388 points, or 1.38%, to 27,746.

Spain’s IBEX 35 declined 65 points, or 0.72%, to end the day at 9,146.