European stocks are heading for a flat to mixed open Thursday as a relief rally stalls.
The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 6 points higher at 8,404, Germany’s DAX flat at 21,933, France’s CAC 2 points lower at 7,475 and Italy’s FTSE MIB 53 points lower at 35,942, according to data from IG.
Earnings are set to come from Unilever, Banco Sabadell, Sanofi, Eni, BNP Paribas and Dassault Systemes. Data releases will include French consumer confidence and EU new car registrations.
Regional markets had followed their global counterparts higher Wednesday as concerns about a trade war between the U.S. and China receded.
U.S. stocks also surged on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said he didn’t plan to remove Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell from his post as central bank leader. Market sentiment had dipped in recent days amid concerns that the central bank’s independence could have been compromised.
S&P 500 futures rose on Wednesday night after the major U.S. averages posted a second straight winning day, while Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed overnight as a possible thaw in U.S.-China trade war fueled investor optimism.