Stoxx 600, FTSE, DAX, ECB update

LONDON — European stocks were mixed on Thursday, as investors awaited the latest rate decision and update from the European Central Bank.

Shortly after the opening bell, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index was flat, with no broad consensus movement among sectors and major regional bourses.

Looking at individual stocks, Gucci owner Kering added 2% in early trade to move toward the top of the Stoxx 600 index. It came after the luxury company said it would delay its acquisition of Valentino until at least 2028.

Investors in the region will be keeping an eye on the ECB today although the central bank is not expected to make changes to its key deposit facility, which stands at 2%. Market participants will be keeping an eye on the ECB’s latest macroeconomic projections for the euro area and the wider global economy, however.

Stateside, S&P 500 futures were flat on Wednesday night as Wall Street awaits August consumer price index data due at 8:30 a.m. ET Thursday morning.

Economists polled by Dow Jones are expecting the index to rise 0.3% on the month for an annual gain of 2.9%. Excluding volatile food and energy, the so-called core CPI is slated to increase 0.3% from July and 3.1% year over year.

That comes after the producer price index showed an unexpected decline of 0.1% on the month. The PPI rose 2.6% on a 12-month basis.

In Asia Pacific markets overnight, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 notched a record high, mirroring gains on Wall Street overnight.

— CNBC’s Alex Harring contributed to this market report.

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