BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks are seen opening on a
positive note Thursday after the S&P 500 set a closing record overnight.

Asian markets were mostly higher, led by mainland China and Hong Kong. Japan's
Nikkei index fell over 1 percent as several heavyweight stocks traded
ex-dividend and investors closely monitored fluctuates in the yen.

Japan's three main monetary authorities on Wednesday threatened intervention in
currency markets to prevent disorderly and speculative moves in the currency.

The dollar strengthened against its major peers and U.S. Treasury yields
retraced losses seen in the previous two session as hawkish comments from Fed
Governor Christopher Waller put fears of higher-for-longer interest rates back
in play.

Waller told a conference in New York that it is appropriate to reduce the
overall number of rate cuts or push them further into the future in response to
the inflation readings in the past two months.

Gold held steady below $2,200 per ounce while oil recovered some ground after
two consecutive sessions of losses.

The European economic calendar remains heavy, with retail sales and unemployment
data from Germany and U.K. GPP figures for the fourth quarter awaited later in
the day.

Across the Atlantic, trading later in the day may be impacted by reaction to
reports on weekly jobless claims, Chicago business activity and pending home
sales.

Investors also eagerly await Friday's release of the Fed's preferred inflation
gauge as well as speeches from Fed officials, Chair Jerome Powell and
rate-setting committee member Mary Daly, for signals on the rate path.

U.S. stocks fluctuated overnight before closing mostly higher after a late-day
surge as Treasury yields slipped on rate-cut optimism.

The Dow rallied 1.2 percent and the S&P 500 added 0.9 percent to snap three-day
losing streaks while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite edged up half a percent.

European stocks hit new record highs on Wednesday as Sweden's Riksbank laid the
groundwork for a rate cut as soon as May and data showed confidence in the euro
zone economy ticked up in March.

The pan European STOXX 600 inched up 0.1 percent. The German DAX rose half a
percent, France's CAC 40 gained 0.3 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 finished
marginally higher.



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