European markets flat; U.S. jobless claims data in focus

European stock markets were flat on Thursday with the pan-European Stoxx 600 was in the flat range.

On the economic front, U.S. labor market data was in focus. U.S. weekly jobless claims data comes out Thursday morning stateside.

Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures were fractionally lower in early premarket trading on Thursday. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 36 points, while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures were both tradings in mildly negative territory.

Further, Asian markets ended on a mixed note after the Chinese industrial profits which soared 57% year-on-year in April.

Oil prices declined on Thursday, however, the downside was in a narrow range as investors sentiments are divided between optimism on the summer driving season in major economies like the United States and Europe, concerns about Indian demand and expectations for potential supply increase from Iran.