European stocks are expected to open higher on Thursday as markets digest minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's July meeting.
The London FTSE index is expected to open 39 points higher at 6,898, the German DAX up 78 points at 10,616 and the French CAC up 31 points at 4,449.
U.S. stocks closed mostly higher on Wednesday as investors assessed the latest minutes from the Fed for more clues on the trajectory of interest rates.
Some voting Federal Reserve policymakers expect that a U.S. interest rate increase will be required soon although there is general agreement that more data are needed before such a move, according to the minutes from the Fed's July policy meeting.
Meanwhile in Asia on Wednesday, Japanese shares dropped on Thursday morning in an otherwise positive Asian trading session, as a stronger yen weighed on sentiment. Data showed that Japan's exports fell 14 percent on-year in July, the worst drop in seven years, but in line with expectations, while imports declined 24.7 percent, missing a Reuters forecast for a 20.6 percent decline.
Oil prices dipped in early trading on Thursday as the prospect of record Saudi output weighed on markets and as traders cashed in on profits following an almost uninterrupted price rally this month of nearly 20 percent.
Earnings are due from Nestle, Vestas Wind and Raiffesen Bank.
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