The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares unofficially closed 0.1 percent lower at 1,114.89 points, after falling by as much as 0.7 percent during the session.

"For now, this is a pause in the rally, not the start of a correction. Investors are taking a breather. Indexes are testing key support levels and they are holding," FXCM analyst Nicolas Cheron said.

"The idea here is to buy the dips, knowing that the Fed and BCE are out there to support the economy."

The euro zone bank index, which has jumped around 50 percent since late July, fell 2.1 percent on Thursday, with Banco Popolare down 4.4 percent and Societe Generale down 2.2 percent.

Cyclical miners also featured among the biggest fallers, with Anglo American down 4.6 percent and Rio Tinto down 2.9 percent.