Actions should open close to balance, attention turns to the employment report. The Eurostoxx 50 opened at 4,227.27 points with an increase of 0.74%, the CAC 40 at 6,758.69 points (+1.18%), the DAX 30 at 15,824.29 points (-0.07%), the FTSE 100 at 7,149.84 points (+0.42%), the SMI at 12,432.79 points (+0.17%), the AEX at 790.00 points (+0.30%), the BEL 20 at 4,322.24 points (+0.31%), the IBEX 35 at 8,991.50 points (+1.64%), the DJIA at 35,312.53 points (-0.14%), the Nasdaq at 15,309.38 points (+0.33%), the S&P 500 at 4,524.09 points (+0.03%) and the Nikkei 225 at 28,525.65 points up 0.26%.

As regarding exchange rates, the change from the close in New York indicates that EUR/USD opens at 1.1836 down 0.05%, EUR/JPY at 130.21 (0.07%) and USD/JPY at  110.02 down 0.02%.

Investors will follow thursday the auction of assimilable Treasury bonds (OAT) of the France Treasury Agency (AFT), which plans to issue on this occasion between 10 billion and 11 billion euros. On the corporate side, Financière Agache, the investment company of the Arnault family, exercised wednesday its option to strengthen the capital of Lagardère, in accordance with the shareholders' agreement amended last April. It will receive 3.91 million shares of the media and distribution group in exchange for its stake in Lagardère Capital, Arnaud Lagardère's holding company, according to a statement issued in the evening. The transaction will be finalized "no later than the beginning of October," said Lagardère Capital, adding that it would lead to the end of the shareholders' agreement between the companies controlled by Arnaud Lagardère and those controlled by Bernard Arnault.

European equity markets are expected to move little on Thursday at the opening, as investors are cautious ahead of Friday's release of the August report on non-agricultural payroll employment in the United States. Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal expect the creation of 720,000 net new jobs in August and an unemployment rate down to 5.2%, from 5.4% in July. At 7:25 a.m., the CAC 40 futures contract was down 2.6 points, or 0.04%, according to data from broker IG Markets. The contract on the DAX 30 was down 30 points, or 0.2%, and the FTSE 100 contract lost 4 points, or 0.06%. Wall Street ended mixed on Wednesday after the announcement of lower-than-expected job creation in the private sector. The Dow Jones Index (DJIA) lost 0.1% to 35,312.53 points. The broader S&P 500 index nibbled 0.03% to 4,524.17 points. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.3% to 15,309.38 points, posting a third consecutive record.

Investment investors flocked to U.S. equity markets at a record pace during the summer, allowing indices to repeatedly hit new records. According to JPMorgan Chase strategists, net inflows on U.S.-listed stocks and index funds hit a record high of about $16 billion in July, and then an additional $13 billion was injected in August. However, fund managers warn that markets are likely to become more volatile in the fall, pointing to the existence of catalysts such as the reduction of the Federal Reserve's support measures. In Asia, the main markets are trading in the green on Thursday. At the end of the session, the Shanghai Composite gained 0.6% and the Hang Seng index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange gained 0.1%. In Tokyo, the Nikkei index gained 0.3%.

US Treasury bond yields are little changed Thursday morning, after the release of a weaker-than-expected ADP report on private sector employment in the United States. At 7:25 a.m., the ten-year Treasury bond rate stood at 1.305%, compared with 1.303% on Tuesday.

The euro shows a slight decline against the dollar on Thursday morning. However, the single currency could rise to $1.19, compared to $1.1840 at 7:25 a.m., on the prospect of a decrease in monetary support from the European Central Bank (ECB) if risk sentiment remains stable, Saxo Bank said.

Oil prices are falling on Thursday morning, with the market anticipating a weakening of demand due to the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in many countries, especially in the United States. Crude oil prices ended slightly higher on Wednesday in New York after the decision of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies to stick to the gradual increase in their production decided in July. Operators also continue to assess the damage to oil facilities in the Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Ida hit over the weekend. U.S. authorities said Wednesday that about 80 percent of crude production has yet to resume in the area. At 7:15 a.m., the November contract on North Sea Brent lost 24 cents, to $71.35 a barrel. The October contract for light sweet crude (WTI) listed on the Nymex was down 30 cents, at $68.29 a barrel.