British News Agency

The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 31 points higher at 8,360, Germany’s DAX up 21 points at 19,472, France’s CAC up 4 points at 7,495 and Italy’s FTSE MIB down 10 points at 34,482.

Investors' primary focus today will be the European Central Bank's latest monetary policy decision. Meanwhile, earnings to come from ABB, Nestle, Pernod Ricard, Publicis, and Nokia.

According to analysts, the European Central Bank (ECB) will likely cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday, but market participants shouldn’t expect much in the way of forward guidance.

The ECB is expected to deliver its third interest rate cut of the year as inflation risks in the European Union ease faster than expected. Price rises in the euro area cooled to 1.8 percent in September, below the central bank’s 2 percent target.

Overnight, in the Asia-Pacific region, China property stocks dropped following a briefing by the country’s housing ministry. At the same time, the broader CSI 300 index was higher, along with most other Asia-Pacific markets.

U.S. stock futures hovered near the flatline Wednesday evening after the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record for the second time this week.