Russian stocks are likely to open slightly higher on Thursday, while investors closely watch interest rate decision from the European Central Bank later today and the jobs report from the US later this week.
Russian markets declined Wednesday amid negative global background and falling oil prices. The MICEX shed 0.9% and the RTS dropped 1%.European stocks closed in negative territory Wednesday as worries that a bailout for Spain will happen later rather than sooner dented sentiment. The Stoxx Europe 600 fell 0.1%. Spain’s IBEX 35 dropped 0.5% triggered by banking sector. The French CAC 40 shed 0.2% amid losses of Alstom industrial major and oil group Total. But Germany’s DAX 30 bucked the trend, adding 0.2%.US markets rose modestly Wednesday, following improved data on US private-sector jobs and activity in the services sector. The Dow Jones added 0.1%, the S&P 500 itched 0.4% and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.5%.Asian markets moved mostly higher in volatile trade Thursday, with Japanese car makers showing strong performance. Japan’s Nikkei Stock jumped 1.2%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 0.2%. Floors on the Chinese mainland remain closed for the Golden Week holidays until Monday. South Korea’s Kospi traded flat as the market reopened after a holiday.