The main European equity markets are expected to open higher as investors await the monetary policy decision of the European Central Bank (ECB) and the press conference by its president, Christine Lagarde.

At 7:40am, the CAC 40 futures contract gained 25 points, or 0.4%, according to data from broker IG Markets. The contract on the DAX 30 rose 72 points, or 0.5%, and the one on the FTSE 100 advanced by 23 points, or 0.3%.
Wall Street finished higher on Wednesday, ending two consecutive sessions of decline despite fears of a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic in several countries. The Dow Jones Index (DJIA) finished with a gain of 0.9%, at 34,138.63 points. The expanded S&P 500 index rose 0.9% to 4,173 points. The Nasdaq Composite finished up 1.2%, at 13,950 points, overcoming Netflix's sharp decline after its results.
According to MUFG Bank, the improved economic outlook for the eurozone could boost foreign investor demand for European equities in the coming months.
On the United States side, President Joe Biden is expected to call for halving his country's greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, according to people familiar with the matter, as the President of the United States strives to reinvigorate global efforts to combat climate change.
Joe Biden will unveil this new goal during a summit at the White House on Thursday and Friday, as part of an effort to assert U.S. global leadership on climate issues amid tensions with China