European markets expected to open higher; Ukraine peace talks in focus

European stocks are expected to spot a affirmative commencement connected Thursday.

Futures tied to the FTSE 100 were past seen 0.3% higher, portion the DAX was up 0.6% and the CAC 40 precocious 0.6%, according to IG Group.

The markets edged higher connected Wednesday, with apparel companies book-ending the pan-European Stoxx 600. Zara's genitor company Inditex led the benchmark aft it reported beardown nine-month results, closing the league 10% higher, portion Hugo Boss shed the aforesaid magnitude aft lowering its guidance.

Volvo Cars connected Wednesday reported a 10% driblet successful income successful November year-on-year. It sold 60,244 cars successful November and saw maturation lone successful its afloat electrical models, which Chief Commercial Officer Erik Severinson said was "encouraging" contempt U.S. income remaining "subdued" aft the phase-out of EV taxation credits.

Ukraine-Russia bid negotiations proceed arsenic Rustem Umerov, the caput of Ukraine's nationalist information council, is expected to conscionable U.S. peculiar envoy Steve Witkoff for talks successful Miami connected Thursday. It comes aft discussions held betwixt Russia and the U.S. failed to present a breakthrough connected Tuesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron is successful Beijing connected Thursday for a gathering with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The French person is expected to impulse his Chinese counterpart to bash much to cooperate connected Ukraine resolution.

It follows moves by the European Union to usage frozen Russian assets arsenic a 'reparations loan' to Ukraine, though the thought has been blocked successful erstwhile attempts.

On currency, the euro deed a seven-week precocious against the dollar connected Wednesday astatine 1.167 arsenic the dollar continues to spot immoderate depreciating contempt somewhat stabilizing successful the 2nd fractional of the year.

There are a fistful of information releases contiguous including European HCOB Construction PMI and retail sales, and U.K. car sales.

Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose Thursday arsenic planetary investors look up to the Federal Reserve's involvement complaint determination connected Dec. 10.

Markets are pricing a astir 89% accidental of a complaint chopped during the upcoming meeting, which is overmuch higher than the likelihood from mid-November, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Stateside, banal futures were small changed Wednesday night. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 65 points, oregon 0.14%. S&P futures hovered supra the flatline, while Nasdaq 100 futures fell little than 0.1%.