The European Central Bank cut its interest rates on Thursday, saying lower inflation and economic growth were allowing it to take its foot off the brake slightly.

Microsoft's suite of productivity software was down for more than 16,000 users on Thursday, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.com.

U.S. motorists should see gasoline prices fall below $3 a gallon for the first time in over three years as soon as next month, shortly before they go to vote in November's presidential election, analysts said this week.

US stock futures moved higher on Thursday, pointing to an extension in a tech-fueled rally in stocks in the prior session.

Boeing (NYSE:BA) could be facing a strike as soon as Friday should more than 30,000 of the planemaker's workers in the US Pacific Northwest vote to begin a work stoppage and reject a tentative labor deal.

London's FTSE 100 hit its highest level in over a week on Thursday, amid broader gains after some clarity around the U.S. Federal Reserve's expected interest rate cut improved risk appetite.