Europe to open higher; Fed, jobs eyed

European equities are expected to open higher Thursday ahead of weekly jobless claims data from the U.S.

Investors will keep a close eye on weekly jobless claims on Thursday for indications that the economic growth trend is still positive and supports a Federal Reserve interest rate hike sooner rather than later.

Stocks traded choppily on Wednesday, searching for direction on the release of the Federal Open Market Committee's March meeting minutes that showed policymakers were divided over the timing of a rate hike.

Meanwhile in Asia, shares in Hong Kong and Tokyo outperformed the region to scale fresh multi-year highs early Thursday. Other parts of Asia saw relatively muted gains following a near 7 percent slide in oil prices. On Thursday, oil prices had risen slightly from the previous session's slump.

Elsewhere, Greece is scheduled to make a 450 million euro payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of its bailout agreement with the IMF, European Union and European Central Bank.

Russia is considering giving Greece funds based on future profits Athens would earn from shipping Russian gas to Europe as part of an extension of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project, a Greek government official told Reuters Wednesday. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow yesterday and continues his visit Thursday.

In other news, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee announces its latest interest rate decision. It's not expected to announce any changes to its policy, however.