(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 18 mar - European shares closed lower tracking oil prices as investors digested fresh inflation data ahead of the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision.

Crude prices resumed rising after Israel attacked Iran's largest gas processing facility in the Bushehr Province.

While Tehran threatened attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

On the data front, the annual inflation rate in the eurozone rose to 1.9% in February 2026 from 1.7% in January, according to figures from the European Union statistical office Eurostat. The inflation rate in the broader EU also climbed to 2.1% from 2.0% the previous month, with both results in line with preliminary data.

Meanwhile, US producer prices rose 0.7%, on an adjusted basis, month on month in February, well above the expected 0.3% increase.

Investors now await the Fed's announcement later today for guidance on future rate paths.

The London FTSE 100 closed down 0.94% at 10,305.29 points, the Frankfurt DAX fell 0.88% at 23,512.72 points, the Paris CAC 40 shed 0.49% at 7,974.49 points, while in Milan the FTSE MIB lost 0.33% at 44,741.34 points, and in Madrid the IBEX 35.

closed 0.20% higher at 17,282.01 points.

(RADIOCOR) 18-03-26 18:00:13 (0545) 5 NNNN