The European Central Bank's monetary policy announcement is the key event scheduled for this Thursday. It is widely anticipated that the bank will maintain its primary refinancing rate at 4.50 percent today. The expectation is that the first rate reduction will occur in June, as decision-makers await additional rounds of staff projections, GDP growth statistics and first-quarter wage growth figures.
The declaration is set for 8.15 am Eastern Time (ET). The Chief of the European Central Bank will conduct a press conference at 8.45 am ET.
Other significant reports due to be released on Thursday include Italy's industrial production figures and the Bank of England credit conditions survey results.
Statistics Norway is set to reveal Norway's monthly GDP data at 2.00 am ET. Following this, at 2.30 am ET, Hungary's inflation statistics for March will be unveiled.
At 4.00 am ET, Italy's statistical office, ISTAT, is set to publish industrial output data for February. In contrast to the 1.2 percent decrease in January, production is anticipated to have grown by 0.6 percent month-on-month. The Bank of England is expected to issue the results of a credit conditions survey at 4.30 am ET.
