On Frankfurt's DAX, German energy major EON fell 2.7%, leading decliners. The FTSE 100 closed 0.46% lower, the DAX contracted by 0.81% and the CAC-40 was down by 1.34%. European equity benchmarks closed lower on the penultimate trading day of the week as Euro area inflation was projected to be negative for a second month in a row, offsetting positive sentiment from a rise in Germany's retail turnover and employment rate.