Europe seen lower; China stocks halted for second time this week

European equities are expected to open lower on Thursday amid further turmoil in the Chinese stock market, where stocks were suspended from all trade on Thursday. All eyes are on China after stocks were suspended from all trade on Thursday after the CSI 300 index -– the benchmark index against which China's new circuit breakers are set  tumbled more than 7 percent in early trade, triggering the market's circuit breaker for a second time this week. We should not forget that tomorrow ran one of the administrative restrictions taken by the authorities in Beijing last summer, including a six-month ban for large shareholders to sell their stock shares of Chinese companies. Today: Nikkei 225: -1.79 %; Hang Seng: -2.39 %; S&P/ASX 200 : -2.18 %; Shanghai Composite: -7.32 %; Shenzhen Composite: -8.34 %; Topix: -1.74 %.

The fallout from North Korea's reported hydrogen nuclear bomb test has continued overnight with President Barack Obama talking by phone on Wednesday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about the international response to North Korea's nuclear test, the White House said.

Oil also remains on the radar for markets. Overall market sentiment remained extremely bearish.

For the euro area provided news: 09:00 German Factory Orders (MoM) (Nov) with expectation of 0.1%; 12:00 Eurozone Unemployment Rate (Dec), with expectations 10.7% and Eurozone Retail Sales (MoM) (Nov), with the expected 0.2%.