FX.co ★ European Markets Head for Flat Open

European equity markets were poised for a steady opening on Thursday as investors monitored global trade developments and pivotal central bank decisions. Following a meeting with President Xi earlier, President Trump announced an agreement to reduce tariffs on Chinese goods in return for China halting rare earth export controls, resuming the purchase of US soybeans, and intensifying the oversight of fentanyl trade. As of yet, there has been no response from Beijing. On the central banking front, the US Federal Reserve reduced interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, while the Bank of Japan maintained its current rates on Thursday. The European Central Bank is anticipated to retain its policy unchanged later in the day. Investors' attention will be on third-quarter GDP data across the Eurozone, German inflation figures for October, and earnings reports from Volkswagen, Puma, and several major French banks. In premarket activity, futures for the Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 indices were stable.