European stocks eased after regional business activity data reinforced expectations that the European Central Bank will raise rates by a further 50 basis points, while U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street following strong gains in the previous two sessions.
U.S. crude oil futures were little changed at $81.64 a barrel as concerns about a global economic slowdown and expected build in U.S. oil inventories were offset by hopes of a fuel demand recovery from top importer China. The currency has largely traded in a sideways pattern after notching a seven-week high at 1.3320 earlier this month.