In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 was little changed from the previous session, falling 0.16 percent. Meanwhile, Germany’s Metro fell to the bottom of the index after the company reported persistently challenging business conditions in Russia. Shares of the wholesale fell more than 7 percent on the news. Britain’s Antofagasta jumped toward the top of the European benchmark in morning trade before giving up most of its gains to finish around 0.7 percent higher. Overall Basic Resources were the best performing sector.

In Currency Markets the euro fell against the dollar on Thursday after the European Central Bank as expected halted new bond purchases and promised to maintain policy support for the euro zone due to risks from trade tensions, Brexit and budget woes in Italy and France. The single currency was 0.25 percent lower at $1.13405. Against the pound, it slipped 0.27 percent at 89.815 pence. The sterling was little changed at $1.263, retreating from an earlier peak of $1.2687. An index that tracks the greenback against the euro, sterling and four other currencies was 0.23 percent higher at 97.271.

In Commodities Markets oil prices edged higher on Thursday, after data showed inventory declines in the United States and as investors began to expect that the global oil market could have a deficit sooner than they had previously thought. Brent crude was up 15 cents, or 0.3 percent, at $60.30 per barrel. U.S. light crude was 21 cents higher, or 0.4 percent, at $51.36 a barrel. OPEC said on Wednesday that demand for its crude in 2019 would fall to 31.44 million bpd, 100,000 bpd less than predicted last month and 1.53 million bpd below what it currently produces.

In US Equity Markets stocks rose for a second day on Thursday, led by technology stocks, as sentiment was boosted by signs of progress between the United States and China over their bitter trade dispute. The S&P 500 was up 0.10 percent, at 2,653.70 and the Nasdaq Composite was flat at 7,099.96. Procter & Gamble Co gained 2.38 percent after Bank of America Merrill Lynch upgraded the consumer goods maker’s stock to “buy” from “neutral”. General Electric Co jumped 10.22 percent after longtime bear JP Morgan upgraded the industrial conglomerate’s shares to “neutral”.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields were mixed on Thursday in choppy trading within narrow ranges, as investors digested the European Central bank’s reduced growth and inflation forecasts for next year along with a warning of economic risks to the region. German 10-year government bond yields fell more than a basis point as ECB President Mario Draghi spoke and was last at 0.264 percent. U.S. 10-year note yields were at 2.905 percent from 2.906 percent late on Wednesday. U.S. 30-year bond yields were up at 3.153 percent , from 3.148 percent on Wednesday.