A broker is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, on May 6, 2025.
Daniel Roland | Afp | Getty Images
LONDON — European markets are expected to see a lackluster mixed open on Thursday as investors take stock of the regional and global economic outlook.
The U.K.’s FTSE index is seen opening a touch below the flatline, Germany’s DAX up 0.2%, France’s CAC 40 up 0.1% and Italy’s FTSE MIB a shade higher, according to data from IG.
The somewhat unenthusiastic open for regional markets on Thursday comes after a positive trading session yesterday, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 closing almost 1.1% higher and most sectors and major regional bourses in the green.
Global markets have been boosted this week by rising expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates when it next meets on Dec. 9-10.
Traders are pricing in a 84.9% chance of a quarter percentage point cut from the Fed in December, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday, allowing the major averages to log their fourth straight day of gains ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific markets tracked Wall Street gains and India’s benchmark indexes hit a record high overnight.
U.S. markets are closed Thursday for Thanksgiving. Trading will resume with a shortened session Friday, when the market will close at 1 p.m. ET.
In Europe on Thursday, there are no major earnings reports. Data releases include Germany’s GfK consumer confidence survey and EU economic sentiment data.