European markets opened lower on Thursday as traders await the latest monetary policy decision from the European Central Bank. The index opened 0.37% lower with most sectors declining.
Germany's managed a 0.25% gain, supported by shares popping 10% after it . French Birkin bag-maker — newly-crowned as the world's largest luxury firm — slipped 3.
4% following a . Regional investors will be monitoring the ECB's latest monetary policy decision and outlook on Thursday. The central bank is widely expected to trim interest rates for the third time this year amid widespread concerns over the euro zone's economic growth outlook in a time of uncertainty over global trade and tariffs.
A quarter-point cut would take the ECB's deposit facility rate, its key rate, to 2.25%. Elsewhere, mostly rose overnight, breaking ranks with Wall Street which declined sharply on Wednesday after U.
S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell cautioned that the ongoing trade tensions could challenge the central bank's goals of . The sell-off in Wall Street was also triggered by a 6.
9% plunge in the artificial intelligence darling 's shares. . Luxury group reported higher revenue as U.
S. sales grew strongly in the first quarter, though slightly missed analyst expectations. Revenue rose 7% year-on-year on a constant currency basis to 4.
1 billion euros ($4.65 billion). That was just shy of a 7.
6% consensus estimate cited by Citi analysts. Citi called the results "a respectable outcome." Growth was driven by an .
