European equity markets were poised to open slightly higher on Thursday, with key regional indices hovering near record highs despite ongoing volatility in global technology shares. Sentiment was further bolstered by reports of a partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which pushed oil prices lower, eased inflation concerns, and dampened expectations for additional interest rate increases.
Investors will also be watching a new round of economic indicators, including Eurozone retail sales, German factory orders, and French employment data. On the corporate front, earnings are scheduled from major names such as Siemens, Deutsche Telekom, Rheinmetall, Assicurazioni Generali, and Merck. In premarket trading, futures linked to the Euro Stoxx 50 and the Stoxx 600 were both up by roughly 0.2%.
