European stocks rise ahead of ECB meeting

European stocks were upbeat on Thursday’s trade as Wall Street rallied during its previous session. Further gains were capped, however, as the European Central Bank meeting is approaching.

Germany’s DAX futures contract was up 0.3%. CAC 40 futures in France added 0.65. The FTSE 100 futures contract in the U.K. climbed 0.5%.

In Wall Street, Dow Jones added 0.9%, and the S&P 500 climbed 0.9%. The Nasdaq Composite edged up 1.2%, unfazed by the threats of slow economic recovery as COVID-19 infections rise in India and Japan.

In Asia, stock markets were upbeat as Japan’s Nikkei advanced 2%.

Investors remain cautious as the European Central Bank is set to announce its policy decision later in the day. ECB is expected to keep its policy unmoved.

Meanwhile, the earnings season continues and Credit Suisse is set to release its anticipated earnings report after the Swiss banking giant posted a first-quarter loss as a hefty hit from the Archegos hedge fund scandal spoiled what would have been its best quarter operationally in at least a decade.