LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: Futures inch higher before payrolls

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EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES INCH HIGHER BEFORE PAYROLLS

European equity futures are marginally higher on Thursday before U.S. labour market data later in the day.

The jobs data, released a day earlier than usual this week due to tomorrow's Independence Day holiday in the U.S., could be pivotal for the outlook for monetary policy as the Fed has recently signalled it could resume rate cuts in the coming months.

Job growth is expected to have moderated last month. A Reuters poll of economists expects nonfarm payrolls likely increased by 110,000 in June, after rising 139,000 in May.

For now, Euro STOXX 50 futures STXEc1 are up just over 0.2%. Futures in Germany FDXc1, Britain FFIc1 and France FCEc1 are up 0.2%-0.4%.

In corporate news, Siemens SIEGn.DE shares will be in focus after the U.S. lifted chip software curbs on China. The company said it was restoring access to their software and technology for Chinese customers.

(Samuel Indyk)

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