Premarket: Europe waits for ECB cut after U.S.-driven bond rally

News Snapshot:

European markets made a steady start on Thursday ahead of an expected ECB interest rate cut, and after weak U.S. economic numbers had triggered a sharp government bond rally and nudged Wall Street toward bull market territory. With the European Central Bank expected to deliver another quarter point cut in the euro zone’s borrowing costs to 2% later, investors are keen to hear what Christine Lagarde and other policymakers think might come next, given the uncertainty over a potential U.S. trade deal. German data already out showed industrial orders unexpectedly rose in April due to strong domestic demand. That helped...