European stocks expected mixed ahead of central bank announcements

European stock markets are looking to open mixed on Thursday after rising for four consecutive days. Investors are waiting for important announcements from central banks, including the Bank of England, the Swiss National Bank, and Sweden's Riksbank. The U.S. Federal Reserve recently decided to keep its key interest rates the same, adding to the uncertainty in markets. President Donald Trump's recent tariff announcements have raised concerns among global investors about potential impacts on growth and inflation. In the UK, the Bank of England is meeting this month, while market expectations suggest a possible interest rate cut in Switzerland. The Riksbank is expected to hold rates steady. European stocks recently rebounded after a loss last week. However, Germany’s market faced a decline on Wednesday, as investors reacted after lawmakers approved significant spending on defense and infrastructure. Overall, European market activity is expected to be cautious. The FTSE 100 is projected to open slightly lower, along with France's CAC 40 and Germany's DAX. In contrast, Italy’s MIB may see a slight increase. In commodity markets, copper prices are rising, reaching their highest level since October. The three-month copper contract is up as analysts expect stronger demand in the U.S. and tighter supply due to trade issues. Meanwhile, China's central bank has decided to keep its key interest rates unchanged as it balances economic growth and currency stability amid trade tensions. The People's Bank of China maintained its rates at 3.1% for the one-year loan prime and 3.6% for the five-year loan prime. Overall, Thursday looks to be a day of cautious trading ahead of major monetary policy announcements in Europe.