Markets Subdued In Asia, Europe; ECB Meeting Results Awaited

Franfurt (Sept 8)  World stock markets were quieter Thursday ahead of this week's featured market event: today's meeting of the European Central Bank. The ECB will issue fresh economic forecasts and assessments at today's meeting. The consensus for this meeting is that the ECB will make no new moves on EU monetary policy. As usual, ECB President Mario Draghi's press conference will be closely scrutinized for any clues on the timing of future monetary policy moves.

In overnight news, the Paris-based OECD think tank said the June U.K. Brexit vote has not significantly impacted the world economy. Many had initially worried the Brexit vote would hurt the Euro zone and even world economies.

Japan's second-quarter gross domestic product rose by 0.7%, year-on-year, it was reported Thursday.  And the Bank of Japan deputy governor said Thursday the BOJ could cut interest rates further into negative territory.

There was economic news out of China Thursday. The world's second-largest economy's imports were up 1.5% in August, year-on-year. However, exports in the same period declined by 2.8%.

Source: KitcoNews