European stocks traded flat on Thursday, with investors cautious ahead of the Jackson Hole symposium and the release of key regional activity data.
At 03:40 ET (07:40 GMT), the DAX index in Germany gained 0.1%, the FTSE 100 in the U.K. also rose 0.1%, while the CAC 40 in France slipped 0.2%.
Focus on Jackson Hole
The Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium begins later Thursday, bringing together global central bankers to discuss monetary policy.
The highlight will be Jerome Powell’s speech on Friday, his final one at the annual meeting as Fed Chair. Investors are looking for clues about a potential September rate cut, after expectations rose on the back of weaker U.S. payrolls earlier this month.
Other key speakers include European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey. Market odds of a September 17 Fed rate cut currently stand at 80%, slightly lower than the 84% priced in a day earlier.
European PMI data in focus
Investors also awaited flash PMI data for August covering the eurozone and major economies, including Germany and Britain.
France’s results were already released. The HCOB France flash services PMI rose to 49.7 in August, the highest since August 2024 and just shy of the 50-point growth threshold. The manufacturing PMI climbed to 49.9, a 31-month high, while the composite PMI improved to 49.8 from 48.6 in July.
Earnings updates
Corporate news remained active. WH Smith cut its full-year profit outlook after revealing a £30 million earnings overstatement in its North American division.
Aegon posted a healthy first-half profit, supported by U.S. business growth. The Dutch insurer said it will double its share buyback and raise its interim dividend by 19%.
Kojamo, the Finnish property group, reported higher revenue but weaker profitability in Q2 2025 as valuation losses continued.
Renishaw, the U.K. engineering firm, forecast full-year profit at the top end of its guidance range, citing stronger cost savings, despite challenges from U.S. tariffs.
Oil prices rise again
Crude prices extended gains on Thursday, supported by signs of resilient U.S. demand.
At 03:40 ET, Brent futures rose 0.8% to $67.37 a barrel, while WTI crude futures gained 1% to $63.33. Both benchmarks had climbed over 1% in the prior session.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, crude inventories dropped by 6 million barrels last week, while gasoline stocks fell 2.7 million barrels, both exceeding forecasts. The data pointed to strong driving demand during the summer season, helping offset global economic concerns.
