At close on July 15 (Wed) European equities: Germany's DAX fell 135.16 pts (-0.54%) to 25,009.22. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 15.76 pts (-0.15%) to 10,513.63. France's CAC 40 rose 15.58 pts (+0.19%) to 8,382.43. STOXX Europe 50 fell 14.44 pts (-0.23%) to 6,265.75. Spain's IBEX 35 fell 81.81 pts (-0.42%) to 19,274.79. Italy's FTSE MIB fell 437.00 pts (-0.83%) to 52,425.50.

U.S. EIA weekly crude inventories, including Cushing stocks and SPR figures, due in 10 minutes; Bank of Canada Governor Macklem to hold a press conference in 10 minutes.

The U.S. Department of Defense has, for the first time in more than 20 years, blocked public release of the annual F-35 program report compiled for Congress. The report, issued annually since 2005, was withheld after reviewers identified classified material unsuitable for disclosure. The F-35 program has repeatedly been criticized for budget overruns, engine delivery delays, postponed software updates and premature parts wear.