European markets set for mixed open with earnings and inflation in focus

European markets set for mixed open with earnings and inflation in focus

LONDON “” European markets are heading for a muted open Thursday, as investors digest a fresh round of corporate earnings and inflation figures from several major economies.

Britain's FTSE 100 is seen around 9 points higher at 6,949, Germany's DAX is set to gain around 12 points to 15,221 and France's CAC 40 is expected to open around 6 points higher at 6,206, according to IG data.

Stocks in Europe are set for a mixed handover from Asia-Pacific, where Chinese markets declined on Thursday while those in Australia, Japan and South Korea advanced modestly.

Futures contracts tied to the major U.S. stock indexes inched higher Thursday morning, after the S&P 500 pulled back from its record highs during Wednesday's regular session, with pressure on the tech sector offsetting upward momentum after several major banks reported strong earnings.

More high-profile first-quarter results are due Thursday, with Bank of America, Citi and PepsiCo all reporting.

The benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield was hovering at around 1.6325% Thursday morning, ahead of the release of closely-watched weekly jobless claims figures and March retail sales data stateside, which are expected to offer further clues on the trajectory of the country's economic recovery.

In coronavirus news, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control