European bourses are mixed on Thursday ahead of rate decisions to be made by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE). Investors are waiting to see if policy makers will take additional steps to give flagging Eurozone economies a boost.
Likewise in Asia on Thursday, markets are mixed as investors sit on the sidelines in anticipation of central bank moves. Investors also await key American jobs data due on Friday. If the numbers are poor, the expectation is the U.S. Federal Reserve may move towards a new round of quantitative easing.
Prior to the TSX open, here's what you should know:
*U.S. futures point to a mixed open, as investors remain cautious prior to the ECB and BoE policy decisions. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures point to a 0.02 per cent loss, S&P 500 futures signal a 0.03 per cent decline, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicate a 0.03 per cent gain.
*The price of oil fell to nearly US$87 a barrel on Thursday. Benchmark oil for August delivery was down 65 cents at $87.01 a barrel while Brent crude for August delivery was up 1 cent at $99.78 per barrel.
*Gold prices are holding steady nearing a two-week high. With trading subdued by the U.S. Independence Day holiday, spot gold dipped 0.2 per cent to $1,614.78 an ounce.
*The Canadian dollar dipped 0.07 cents at close on Wednesday to trade at 98.70 cents US.
*Statistics Canada will release a research paper on the employment growth rates of small versus large firms between 1999 and 2008.
*Of note on the U.S. economic data calendar for Thursday, the ADP Employment Report for June is due as is a weekly jobless claims report and the Institute of Supply Management's Non-Manufacturing Index for June.