In European Equity Markets indices closed lower Thursday after the European Central Bank cut its forecast for growth in the euro zone. At the closing bell, the pan-European Stoxx 600 was down almost 0.6 percent with almost every sector in the red. Autos and basic resources both shed more than 2 percent. Looking at individual stocks, Hugo Boss fell 6.5 percent after announcing it expects its operating profit to increase faster than sales in 2019.

In Currency Markets sterling fell to a one-week low on Thursday after British and European Union sources said Brexit negotiations had hit an impasse. Nothing at the moment suggests anything will change in Britain’s Brexit talks with the European Union over the next 48 hours, a government source said on Thursday, adding that the EU was simply not moving. The pound fell half a percent to $1.3089. Against a weaker euro, it gained 0.3 percent to 85.64 pence.

In Commodities Markets oil prices were broadly unchanged on Thursday as OPEC-led supply cuts and U.S. sanctions against exporters Venezuela and Iran counteracted record U.S. crude output, rising inventories and falling estimates of global demand growth. Brent crude futures were at $66.10 per barrel, up 11 cents from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures were at $56.44 per barrel, up 22 cents.

In US Equity Markets indices fell for the fourth straight session on Thursday, weighed down by financial and technology stocks. The S&P 500 was down 0.76 percent, at 2,750.44 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.80 percent, at 7,446.24. Only the defensive utilities and real estate sectors were trading higher. Among stocks, Kroger Co fell 10.5 percent after the supermarket chain projected annual earnings below Wall Street forecasts.

In Bond Markets European bonds rose on Thursday after the European Central Bank delayed its first post-crisis interest-rate hike until 2020 and offered banks a fresh round of loans to prevent a credit crunch that could worsen the European Union’s economic slowdown. The German 10-year bund was 4.1 basis points lower at 0.088 percent, and the Italian 10-year yield was 7.7 basis points lower, last at 2.537 percent.