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• Major European bourses begun Thursday's trade relatively mixed, as investors geared up for the latest monetary policy decision from the European Central Bank.
The pan-European STOXX 600 opened down 0.17 percent, while major sectors moved into negative territory. On the bourses front, major indexes were trading mixed.
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• Asian stocks hit a record high on Thursday though concerns about the Trump administration’s protectionist stance tempered enthusiasm in financial markets, while the dollar struggled after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin welcomed a weaker currency.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan advanced 0.3 percent to an all-time peak for the ninth session in a row.
• Japan’s Nikkei share average dropped to a near two-week low on Thursday as a stronger yen hurt exporters, although firmer oil prices pulled up oil and mining stocks.
The Nikkei ended 1.1 percent lower at 23,669.49, the weakest closing level since Jan. 12.
• China stocks weakened from two-year highs on Thursday, with the benchmark Shanghai index snapping a seven-session winning streak, led down by property and healthcare firms, as investors pocketed gains after recent strong rally.
At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was down 11.16 points or 0.31 percent at 3,548.30.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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