European stocks close down as deflation fears bite

European stock markets closed down Friday, as deflation worries deepened for the eurozone, which was locked in crucial talks with Greece over a possible restructuring of debt. Eurozone consumer prices fell by a record 0.6 percent in January, confirming deflation could be taking hold for the long term, EU data showed. The drop from minus 0.2 percent in December appears to back the European Central Bank's decision last week to launch a bond-buying spree to drive up prices. Plummeting world oi