In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 edged 0.29% below the flatline, with autos falling more  than 1% to lead losses as most sectors and major bourses traded in negative territory. Daimler shares fell more than 3.2% to lead the automotive sector into the red after the German carmaker announced a cost-cutting program which it said will “negatively impact” earnings in 2020 and 2021. Ticketing provider CTS Eventim slid 7.2% after KPS Stiftung announced the sale of 4.2 million shares in the company. Earnings remain in focus, as British private equity firm 3i saw its stock fell 4.3% after reporting its first half results.

In Currency Markets sterling kept within its recent trading range on Thursday but this week could prove its second best so far this month as expectations that the Conservative Party may win a majority in the Dec. 12 national election fuel investors’ optimism. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have a 10-point lead over the main opposition Labour Party, a poll by Savanta ComRes showed on Wednesday. The pound was last marginally up at $1.2859 and slightly higher versus the euro at 85.56 pence. The currency remained unmoved by weaker-than-expected British retail sales, which rose 3.1% year-on-year in October.

In Commodities Markets oil was mixed on Thursday as a build in U.S. crude inventories weighed on prices, while comments from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries about lower-than-expected U.S. shale production in 2020 limited declines. Prices were also capped by mixed signs for oil demand in China, the world’s biggest crude importer. Industrial output rose more slowly than expected in October, but oil refinery throughput hit the second-highest level on record. Brent futures were up 15 cents at $62.52 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude was down 4 cents to $57.08 a barrel.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 and the Dow were unchanged on Thursday, but still hovered near record levels as a dour forecast from Cisco offset gains in Walmart after its strong outlook. Cisco Systems Inc fell 7.6% after the network gear maker said current-quarter revenue would decline 3% to 5% amid declining global spending on its routers and switches, some of which are made in China. However, Walmart Inc jumped 1.8% as the world’s biggest retailer raised its annual earnings outlook. Its results pointed to strong domestic consumer demand, ahead of a crucial retail sales report on Friday.

In Bond Markets Euro zone government bond yields fell to one-week lows on Thursday as weak economic data globally gave investors an incentive to move back into fixed income after a recent selloff. Across the euro area, long-dated bond yields fell 3-4 basis points each. German, French and Dutch 10-year bond yields reached one-week lows. France’s 10-year bond yield slipped back into negative territory a week after it turned positive for the first time since July. Germany’s Bund yield fell to a low of -0.34% , down from last week’s three-and-a-half-month low around -0.22%.