European stocks are falling, eyes on ECB

European stocks fell on Thursday as investors anxiously awaited the European Central Bank’s interest rate decision, a day after the US Federal Reserve hinted it would continue to raise interest rates.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down 0.9 percent at 0810 GMT.

The European Central Bank is widely expected to raise interest rates by 50 basis points at 1315 GMT, following Wednesday’s move by the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates by half a percentage point.

Britain’s FTSE 100 index fell 0.6%, as investors focused on the Bank of England’s interest rate decision later on Thursday.

All sectors of the 600 index declined, with industrial and retail stocks falling 1.6 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively.

Banking shares fell 0.8 percent.