Live Markets-Europe before the bell: futures signal softer open as oil jumps
Busy earnings day in Europe
It's been another busy earnings day in Europe with BNP Paribas, UniCredit, Nokia, Renault, STMicro, BT and TotalEnergies among a number of companies to have released results before the open.
Oil jump weighs on risk sentiment
Meanwhile, Brent crude has jumped to a more than six-week high after the Iranian-aligned Houthis said on Thursday they struck two Saudi oil tankers as part of a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, threatening to create a second chokepoint on global oil supplies.
That's weighing on risk sentiment in Europe on Thursday. Euro STOXX 50 futures are down 0.3%. Futures on the DAX, CAC and FTSE are down between 0.2% and 0.4%.
Futures point to softer European open
European stock futures are signalling a softer open on Thursday as crude oil prices have jumped again, while Alphabet's spending plans also kept investors wary.
The Google parent said its capex plans were between $195 billion and $205 billion this year, a $15 billion increase from the prior quarter.
Some investors are concerned about big-tech's unprecedented spending plans before there is obvious evidence that their returns will justify their investment.
