Investing.com - European stocks were mixed on Thursday, as investors remained cautious ahead of the European Central Bank’s monthly policy decision due later in the trading session.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 inched up 0.05%, France’s CAC 40 fell 0.19%, while Germany’s DAX 30 slid 0.28%.
Later Thursday, the ECB was expected to leave interest rates unchanged.
Market participants were eyed comments by ECB President Mario Draghi after the policy decision for indications on possible easing measures in the near future.
Financial stocks were adly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) jumped 0.95% and 0.90%, while Germany’s Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) gained 0.42%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) and Unicredit (MI:CRDI) climbed 0.56% and 0.57% respectively, while Spanish banks BBVA (MC:BBVA) and Banco Santander (MC:SAN) rallied 1.39% and 1.34%.
Elsewhere, Thyssenkrupp (DE:TKAG) saw shares advance 0.51% despite reports Turkish fertilizer producer Bagfas is accusing the German group of bad work on a €140 million plant and will fight the company’s court claim over non-payment.
On the downside, Renault (PA:RENA) dropped 0.51% after the French company said it will begin hiring at least 300 tech experts this month, becoming the latest carmaker to try to lure workers away from Silicon Valley.
In London, FTSE 100 rose 0.32%, boosted by sharp gains in the financial sector.
Shares in Lloyds Banking (LON:LLOY) advanced 0.59% and HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) jumped 1.11%, while the Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) and Barclays (LON:BARC) rallied 1.61% and 1.83% respectively.
Mining stocks were also broadly higher on the commodity-heavy index. Randgold (LON:RRS) ressources edged up 0.17% and Fresnillo (LON:FRES) climbed 0.87%, while Glencore (LON:GLEN) and BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) both added 0.25%.
Meanwhile, shares in Wolseley (LON:WOS) plummeted 2.06% said it will pursue plans to restructure its business in the UK and Central Europe after “challenging” market conditions caused a drop in like-for-like revenues in both regions.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.17% fall, S&P 500 futures a 0.23% decline, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.17% loss.