The pan-European Stoxx 600 ticked 0.4% higher after the opening bell, chemicals topping early gains with a 0.8% rise, while only autos and telecoms traded in the red.

Investors in Europe are awaiting the latest decision from the ECB. The central bank is predicted to maintain guidance, on the likelihood of more stimulus.

Market watchers in particular will be paying close attention to the press conference, held after the Governing Council’s meeting, with President Mario Draghi expected to comment on several topics including the state of Europe’s economy, trade tensions and banks in the euro area. The ECB decision will be announced at 12:45 p.m. London time.

· Share markets were in a muted mood on Thursday as fears the U.S. trade tussle with Mexico would further depress global growth warred with wagers central banks would have to respond with fresh stimulus.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was off 0.2% in very thin trade. Japan’s Nikkei ended all but flat and Shanghai blue chips eased 0.6%.

E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 dipped 0.1%, while FTSE futures added 0.03%.

· Japan's Nikkei ended flat in choppy trade on Thursday with investor sentiment hit by concerns about the U.S. trade war with Mexico and China, which shifted support toward firms with strong domestic exposure away from those reliant on oveseas trade.

The Nikkei share average .N225 ended 0.01% lower to 20,774.04, having flirted in positive territory for part of the session.

"Although expectations of rate cuts by the Federal Reserve have led to rallies in U.S. shares, Japanese shares are benefiting less because U.S. rate cuts would strengthen the yen," said Masahiro Ayukai, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) Securities.

· China’s major stock indexes fell on Thursday to close at near four-month lows, as worries persisted over the country’s economic momentum amid a bruising trade war with the United States which shows no signs of easing.

The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.9% to 3,564.68, while the Shanghai Composite Index closed down 1.2% at 2,827.80.