london european stocks are expected to open mixed thursday as markets digest the latest signals from the us federal reserve regarding rate hikes the uks ftse index is seen opening 4 points lower at 7526 germanys dax up 7 points at 14040 frances cac 40 up 2 points at 6310 and italys ftse mib 39 points higher at 24234 according to data from ig the cautious open expected for european stocks comes after a higher close wednesday as global markets tried to bounce back from a widespread retreat in the previous session in the us stocks rose wednesday after the minutes of the federal reserves may policy meeting showed the central bank is prepared to raise rates further than the market had anticipated the minutes from the feds may 34 meeting showed officials saw the need to raise rates quickly and possibly more than the market has priced in to quell the recent inflationary pressures asiapacific stocks struggled for direction in thursday morning trade as investors reacted to the fed minutes us stock futures were also mixed wednesday evening as investors digested a disappointing update from nvidia an economic bellwether in the technology industry its the last day of the world economic forum on thursday bringing to an end an event that sees global business and political leaders come together to discuss the worlds most pressing problems with the war in ukraine topping the agenda on thursday cnbc will be interviewing bulgarias prime minister the vice president of palantir the ceos of cepi and signify and others