Europe's main equity markets are expected to open higher as investors await the European Central Bank's (ECB) monetary policy decision and the press conference of its president, Christine Lagarde.

At 7:40 a.m., the CAC 40 futures contract gained 25 points, or 0.4%, according to data from broker IG Markets. The contract on the DAX 30 took 72 points, or 0.5%, and the ftse 100 contract advanced by 23 points, or 0.3%.
Wall Street ended higher on Wednesday, ending two consecutive sessions of decline despite fears of a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic in several countries. The Dow Jones Index (DJIA) ended up 0.9% at 34,138.63 points. The broader S&P 500 index advanced 0.9% to 4,173 points. The Nasdaq Composite ended up 1.2%, at 13,950 points, overcoming Netflix's sharp decline after its results.
According to MUFG Bank, the improved economic outlook for the eurozone could boost foreign investor demand for European equities in the coming months.
On the U.S. side, President Joe Biden is expected to call for halving his country's greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, according to people familiar with the matter, as the U.S. president strives to revive global efforts to combat climate change.
Biden will unveil the new goal at a White House summit on Thursday and Friday, as part of an effort to assert U.S. global leadership on climate issues amid tensions with China.