After a notable fall in the previous session, European stocks may open slightly higher on Thursday amid some likely bargain hunting. However, trading may turn volatile as investors shift their focus to interest rate decisions from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England along with factory orders data from Germany due later in the day. Both central banks are expected to hold their key rates at record lows.
Financial woes in Greece, Portugal and Spain and caution ahead of Friday's U.S. December jobs report may also limit gains if any.
Meanwhile, the European Commission on Wednesday announced plans to set up strict measures to monitor Greece's fiscal and economic policies aimed at reducing the EU-member nation's ballooning debt and massive deficits. "This is the first time we have established such an intense and quasi-permanent system of monitoring," EU Economy Commissioner Joaqin Almunia said.
Most Asian stocks fell on Thursday with participants not showing any significant interest in picking up stocks following a somewhat lackluster session on Wall Street overnight. Besides, caution ahead of some key earnings reports, a fair amount of profit taking due to weaker commodity prices, a disappointing report on Australia's retail sales, and a rise in New Zealand's Q4 jobless rate to a 10 1/2 year high also weighed on the markets.
Crude oil prices also slipped further by about 0.3% to $76.73 in the Asia electronic session today.
On Wall Street, stocks moved mostly lower on Wednesday following disappointing results at companies from Pfizer Inc. to Ryder Systems Inc., slower-than-estimated growth in the services sector and concerns surrounding President Obama's pledge to complete banking and healthcare reform. The Nasdaq edged up 0.85 points or less than a tenth of a percent, while the Dow fell 0.3% and the S&P 500 dipped 0.6%.
The Dow futures are now moving down by 14 points suggesting weakness on Wall Street Thursday morning for a second straight day.
In corporate news, Cadbury Plc announced the resignations of the company's top management personnel, pursuant to Kraft Foods Inc.'s decision to declare its offer for Cadbury unconditional.
Automaker Fiat SpA's union said an employees' strike throughout Italy to protest plans to shut a factory in Sicily drew massive support.
Automotive supplier Faurecia SA has agreed to buy the German business of Plastal for 23-33 million euros, depending on the valuation of real-estate assets.
The European markets fell for the first time in four days on Wednesday, as worries over Euro-zone debt spilled over to touch Spain and Portugal.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of pan-European blue chips closed 0.60% lower, while the narrower DJ Stoxx 50 index fell 0.65%. Around Europe, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 index slipped 0.57%, France's CAC 40 index fell 0.49% and Germany's DAX index dropped 0.66%.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.