BSS, London :
European stock markets were steady at the open Thursday, with all eyes on the European Central Bank ahead of its latest policy decisions aimed at supporting the struggling eurozone economy.
London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index was flat at 6,148.37 points compared with Wednesday’s close.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt’s DAX 30 fell 0.3 percent to 9,697.64 points and the Paris CAC 40 rose 0.2 percent to 4,432.56.
The euro ticked lower against the dollar as investors focus on Thursday’s meeting of the European Central Bank that is expected to see it unveil more stimulus.
ECB boss Mario Draghi has come under pressure to deliver measures that will break years of weak inflation and sagging economic growth after his last attempts were criticised as falling short.
Among the moves being considered are a cut in interest rates further into negative territory, an increase in bond-buying-effectively printing more cash to stimulate growth-and an extension of the current asset-purchase past its March 2017 timeframe.
“All eyes will be on the ECB on Thursday as… Draghi attempts to avoid the mistakes of the past and deliver on a monetary easing package that is worthy of driving inflation back towards its target of below but close to two percent,” said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda trading group.
European stock markets were steady at the open Thursday, with all eyes on the European Central Bank ahead of its latest policy decisions aimed at supporting the struggling eurozone economy.
London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index was flat at 6,148.37 points compared with Wednesday’s close.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt’s DAX 30 fell 0.3 percent to 9,697.64 points and the Paris CAC 40 rose 0.2 percent to 4,432.56.
The euro ticked lower against the dollar as investors focus on Thursday’s meeting of the European Central Bank that is expected to see it unveil more stimulus.
ECB boss Mario Draghi has come under pressure to deliver measures that will break years of weak inflation and sagging economic growth after his last attempts were criticised as falling short.
Among the moves being considered are a cut in interest rates further into negative territory, an increase in bond-buying-effectively printing more cash to stimulate growth-and an extension of the current asset-purchase past its March 2017 timeframe.
“All eyes will be on the ECB on Thursday as… Draghi attempts to avoid the mistakes of the past and deliver on a monetary easing package that is worthy of driving inflation back towards its target of below but close to two percent,” said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda trading group.
