Doha: European stocks closed lower on Wednesday, as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decision and ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which added to market uncertainty. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index fell 0.4 percent, hitting its lowest level in nearly a month.

According to Qatar News Agency, the healthcare sector was the biggest loser on the index, weighed down by a 1 percent drop in Novo Nordisk shares. In contrast, defense stocks were among the biggest gainers, increasing by 0.6 percent. Other major stock market indices were largely mixed, with London’s FTSE 100 closing 0.1 percent higher following data that showed inflation fell as expected in May. Investors are now focused on the Bank of England’s interest rate decision set for Thursday.

In Sweden, the central bank cut its key interest rate to 2 percent from 2.25 percent, as anticipated. However, Stockholm’s benchmark index still fell by 0.1 percent. Meanwhile, shares of French outsourcing company TP plummeted 13.6 percent, dragging the company to the bottom of the Stoxx 600, after it announced new medium-term targets.