In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 closed down by 0.5%, with most sectors and major bourses in negative territory. Britain’s Cobham rose to the top of the European benchmark Thursday morning, after U.S. private equity firm Advent International agreed to buy the company for $5 billion. Shares of the jumped more than 34% on the news. Sage fell to the bottom of the index, falling more than 11% after software related services revenue fell 15.5% for the first nine months of the year.

In Currency Markets sterling traded below $1.25 on Thursday, little changed, after new Prime Minister Boris Johnson filled his cabinet with Brexiteers and promised he would take Britain out of the European Union on Oct. 31 with or without a transition deal. Johnson met his Brexiteer-dominated team of senior ministers for the first time on Thursday to plan how to persuade the EU to agree to a new withdrawal deal. Sterling edged up 0.2% to $1.2502.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose about 1% on Thursday amid Middle East tensions and a big decline in U.S. crude stockpiles, but gains were capped due to lingering worries about slowing economic growth that could reduce fuel demand.  Brent crude futures were up 74 cents, or 1.2%, at $63.92 a barrel, after hitting a session high of $64.23. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 67 cents, or 1.2%, at $56.55 a barrel, after hitting a session high of $56.99.

In US Equity Markets stocks fell on Thursday after a handful of mixed earnings reports pointed to a slowing global economy, and as the ECB chief’s comments on monetary policy failed to impress investors. Tesla Inc fell 14.1% and was the biggest drag on the Nasdaq after the electric carmaker softened its language once again on meeting its profit timeline after missing its quarterly financial targets. The S&P 500 was down 0.53%, at 3,003.63. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.85%, at 8,250.97.

In Bond Markets a strong rally in euro zone bonds ran out of steam on Thursday after ECB policymakers left rates unchanged but opened the door to more easing, underwhelming investors who had expected more. Germany’s government bond yield was 3.5 bps higher at -0.346%, having earlier hit a new all-time low of -0.422% — below the ECB’s -0.4% deposit rate. Italian 10-year government bond yields were last up 5 bps on the day, reversing an earlier decline of 11 basis points to stand at 1.55%.