LIVE MARKETS-Before the bell: European futures tumble as ECB, BoE loom
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BEFORE THE BELL: EUROPEAN FUTURES TUMBLE AS ECB, BOE LOOM
European shares were headed for steep losses on Thursday as investors braced for guidance from central bankers on the fallout from surging energy prices, after a major escalation in the U.S. and Israel’s conflict with Iran sent oil prices soaring.
EuroSTOXX50 .STOXX50E and DAX .GDAXI futures slid more than 1.5%, while FTSE .FTSE contracts were down around 1%, with policy announcements due later in the day from both the European Central Bank and the Bank of England.
In corporate news, traders were digesting a fresh batch of earnings and new dealmaking activity. Here are some of the highlights so far:
Equinor EQNR.OL splits downstream MMP unit, sees greater focus on energy trading
Lamborghini 2025 profit dented by US tariffs and EV U-turn
UnileverULVR.L , Kraft Heinz held talks to merge food business and condiments division, FT reports
Lanxess LXSG.DE misses 2025 sales estimates, plans further job cuts in Germany
Germany's Vonovia VNAn.DE returns to profit in 2025 after years of losses
Meanwhile, U.S. futures were down about 0.3% after cash indexes saw sharp losses on Wednesday, when the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and indicated it expects to deliver only one rate cut this year.
Crude prices climbed further, with benchmark Brent jumping by as much as $5 a barrel after Iran launched attacks on energy facilities across the Middle East, following a strike on the South Pars gas field.
(Danilo Masoni)
EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:
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