European equity markets were set to open lower on Thursday, adding to the previous session’s losses as oil prices rose on mounting concerns over a potential escalation between the US and Iran and persistent threats to crude supplies from the Middle East, fueling inflation worries. The latest FOMC minutes reinforced a hawkish tone among policymakers, highlighting ongoing upside risks to inflation.
In Europe, investors will be watching German trade data, new car registration figures, and the publication of the ECB’s Monetary Policy Meeting Accounts. On the corporate front, UK retailer Tesco is due to release its earnings. In premarket trading, futures on the Euro Stoxx 50 and the Stoxx 600 were down 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively.
