FX.co ★ European Stocks Set for Lower Open

European equity markets were set for a weaker open on Thursday as rising geopolitical tensions and a broad selloff in technology stocks weighed on risk appetite. Renewed exchanges of strikes between the US and Iran have dimmed hopes for a near-term peace agreement, keeping worries about higher energy prices and persistent inflation in sharp focus. At the same time, a downbeat outlook from US chipmaker Broadcom pressured global technology and artificial intelligence shares. In Europe, investors will be watching Eurozone retail sales, Turkish trade data, and construction PMI readings from across the region for fresh clues on the economic outlook. The corporate earnings calendar is expected to be muted, with no major results due on Thursday. In premarket trading, Euro Stoxx 50 futures were down 0.3%, while Stoxx 600 futures slipped 0.4%.