FX.co ★ European Stocks Set for Lower Open

European equity markets prepared to open lower on Thursday as investors anticipated policy announcements from the European Central Bank and the Bank of England. It is broadly expected that both institutions will maintain current interest rates. Market sentiment was further weighed down by a global sell-off in the technology sector, driven by concerns over high valuations, substantial capital expenditures, and the disruptive potential of AI technologies on traditional software business models. Meanwhile, in corporate developments, French bank BNP Paribas surpassed expectations with its fourth-quarter net income and announced revised upward mid-term financial targets to reassure investors. In premarket activity, futures for both the Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 indices decreased by approximately 0.2%.