European stock exchanges are expected to open higher on Thursday, September 8, ahead of the ECB's announcements. The Eurostoxx 50 opens at 3,502.09 points (+0.06%), the CAC 40 at 6,105.92 points (+0.02%), the DAX 40 at 12,915.97 points (+0.35%), the FTSE 100 at 7,237.83 points (-0.86%), the SMI at 10,805.16 points (-0.27%), the AEX at 621.27 points (-0.27%) ,59%), the BEL 20 at 3,577.06 points (+0.12%), the IBEX 35 at 7,855.90 points (+0.17%), the DJIA at 31,581.28 points (+1.40%), the Nasdaq at 11,791.90 points (+2.14%), the S&P 500 at 3,979.87 points (+1.83%) and the Nikkei 225 at 28,015,64 points (+2.13%).

On the exchange rate side, the change compared to the close in New York indicates that EUR/USD opened at 0.9989 (-0.19%), EUR/JPY at 143.81 (-0.03%), and USD/JPY at 143.97 (+0.15%).

Investors are waiting, after the close of the Paris Stock Exchange, for the quarterly review of Euronext indices for the CAC family. For its part, Rubis publishes its half-year results.

European equity markets are expected to open slightly higher on Thursday before the monetary policy decision of the European Central Bank (ECB), which could follow in the footsteps of the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and announce a 75 basis point hike in its key rates. Around 7:50 a.m., the CAC 40 futures contract gained 39 points, or 0.6%, according to data from the broker IG Markets. The DAX contract earned 67 points, or 0.5%, and the FTSE 100 contract increased by 11 points, or 0.15%.

While inflation in the eurozone reached a record of 9.1% over a year in August, weighing on the purchasing power of households and the economy as a whole, analysts have been debating for several weeks about the extent of the rate hike that the ECB will announce. Some believe that it will raise them by 50 basis points, as in July, in order not to further burden the economy and others are counting on 75 basis points, saying that the institution must show its determination to fight inflation.

In this context, the monetary policy statement, due to be published at 14:15, will be carefully monitored, as will the comments of ECB President Christine Lagarde on the future trajectory of interest rates. In July the ECB raised its key rates for the first time since 2011. It then opted for an increase of 50 basis points, higher than its own prospective indications, thus ending a negative interest rate policy in force since 2014. The central bank had warned that further rate hikes were likely depending on changes in economic indicators. In the United States, the Fed, which could also raise rates by 75 basis points at the end of its meeting on 20 and 21 September, indicated in its Beige Book on Wednesday evening that the American economy had grown slightly during the summer but that the economic outlook for the coming year “remains [are] weak overall” due to the rise in interest rates and problems with procurement.

After the publication of the Beige Book, which is a preparatory document for the next meeting of the Fed's monetary policy committee, Wall Street finished sharply higher, supported by the rebound in the tech sector after a slight reduction in bond market rates. The Dow Jones Index (DJIA) closed 1.4% higher and the expanded S&P 500 index gained 1.8%. The Nasdaq, rich in technological stocks, rose 2.1%, ending seven consecutive sessions of decline thanks to a slight reduction in bond market rates. Among the main tech stocks, Apple gained 0.9% on Wednesday after unveiling its new iPhone 14 range. The selling prices of these smartphones will not be increased despite inflation. Apple also introduced three new Apple Watch smartwatches, as well as a revised version of its AirPods Pro earbuds.

In Asia, the markets are trading in a mixed order on Wednesday. The Hang Seng Index on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange fell 0.6% at the end of trading and the Shanghai Composite was close to balance. On the other hand, in Tokyo, the Nikkei index gained 2.3% at the end of the session, driven by the announcement of growth higher than initial estimates in Japan in the second quarter. Over the period from April to June, the world's third-largest economy, after the United States and China, grew by 3.5% on an annualized basis, according to revised data released by the Japanese government on Thursday.

The euro fell against the dollar on Thursday morning, as foreign exchange traders focused on the ECB.

Oil prices rose around 1% on Thursday morning, recovering slightly after a period of decline. On Wednesday, oil fell to its lowest level since January, hampered by concerns about Fed rate hikes and the fall in Chinese oil imports, a sign of a possible slowdown in energy demand. Prices started to fall when the Wall Street Journal reported that a 75 base rate hike by the Fed was very likely at the end of its next meeting,” says The Price Futures Group, adding that “[portfolio] liquidations seem to be increasing because the market fears the worst for the economy.” In addition, “it is rumored that after the strategic reserves have been unlocked, we must prepare for the announcement of an increase in oil stocks this week.” Around 7:40 a.m., the November North Sea Brent contract earned 67 cents, at $88.67 per barrel, while the October deal on light sweet crude (WTI) listed in New York took 69 cents, at $82.63 per barrel.