European stock markets open with falls of 0.3% before the ECB meeting

The main European stock markets recorded moderate losses, around 0.3%, shortly after the opening this Thursday, in which investors will be awaiting the meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB) on interest rates, according to market data.

At 9:30 a.m., Milan was down 0.37%; Frankfurt 0.35%, London 0.33%, Paris 0.31% and the Euro Stoxx 50 index 0.25%. Only Madrid rose 0.03%.

The decline in the markets of the Old Continent coincided with the 0.25% drop in futures on US indices, because Wall Street had ended Wednesday with increases: the Dow Jones Industrial Average 0.2%, the S&P 500 0.51% and the Nasdaq Composite 0.58%.

Losses had also predominated in Asia, as Hong Kong fell 1.27%, Tokyo 1.23% and Shanghai 0.41%. Only Seoul rose, 0.23%.

This morning, China’s trade data for February was released, when exports increased by 7.1% and imports by 3.5%.

Factory orders fell 11.3% in Germany in January.

Markets await the ECB meeting, which is expected to keep interest rates at 4.25%. He will also announce revised economic forecasts for the euro zone.

In addition, the publication of the weekly requests for unemployment benefits in the United States, the data on its trade balance and the intervention of the president of the Federal Reserve (US central bank), Jerome Powell, in the Senate of that country are expected.

The price of the euro barely changed from the previous day’s close and stood at 1.0896 dollars.

The interest rate on long-term German debt rose by one basis point, to 2.33%.

A barrel of Brent oil fell 0.3% and was trading at $82.71 despite the Houthi attack in the Red Sea.

The price of a troy ounce of gold rose 0.45% and was around historical highs, standing at $2,158 (this morning it set a record at $2,161).

Bitcoin rose 0.5% to $66,810.