European stocks close slightly lower as markets look ahead to Fed meeting

This was CNBC's live blog covering European markets.

European markets had a lackluster start to the new trading week, as global investors looked ahead to the U.S. Federal Reserve's next meeting.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally closed 0.1% lower, having spent the session hovering either side of the flatline. Telecoms stocks fell 1.4%, while autos climbed 0.9%.

The Fed will start its Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Tuesday with a policy decision due the next day. A Reuters poll of economists is expecting the Fed to hold its benchmark interest rates steady at 5.25% to 5.5%.

Overnight, Japan's Nikkei 225 index led gains in Asia-Pacific markets on Monday, while China shares extended gains after data showed its economy kicked off the year on a strong note.

U.S. stocks moved higher on Monday morning, led by gains in Nvidia, as Wall Street awaited a key artificial intelligence conference.

European stocks closed slightly lower on Monday, with the Stoxx 600 index down 0.1%.

Germany's DAX was flat while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 and France's CAC 40 fell by 0.06% and 0.2%, respectively.

— Jenni Reid

Markets will be looking past what the Federal Reserve does at its meeting this week and thinking more about what the future holds, according to Chris Larkin, the managing director of trading and investing at ETrade from Morgan Stanley.

"No one expects a rate cut on Wednesday, but after last week's double-dose of hot inflation data, everyone will be wondering whether the Fed is rethinking a June cut," Larkin said Monday.

Noting that the S&P 500 broke a record high for the ninth straight week, Larkin expects that "the market will need to like what it sees in the Fed's statement on Wednesday, and get confirmation from (Fed Chair)