European stock markets mid session: stocks traded higher ahead of the European Central Bank’s interest rate decision and the U.S. payrolls

Stock indices traded higher ahead of the European Central Bank's interest rate decision and the U.S. payrolls. The European Central Bank will release its interest rate decision today. Market participants expect the ECB's interest rate remains unchanged at 0.15%. The European Central Bank cut its interest rate to 0.15% from 0.25% in June.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will reveal its labour market data on Thursday. Analysts expect that the U.S. economy will add 211,000 jobs in June, after 217,000 jobs in May.

The unemployment rate in the U.S. should remain unchanged at 6.3% in June.

Retail sales in the Eurozone were flat in May, missing expectations for a 0.2% gain, after a 0.2% decline in April. April's figure was revised down from a 0.4% rise.

On a yearly basis, retail sales in the Eurozone increased 0.7% in May, missing expectations for a 1.2% rise, after a 1.8% gain in April. April's figure was revised down from a 2.4% increase.

Eurozone's services purchasing managers' index decreased to 52.8 in June from 53.2 in May, in line with expectations.

German final services purchasing managers' index declined to 54.6 in June from 56.0 in May, missing expectations for a drop to 54.8.

French final services purchasing managers' index fell to 48.2 in June from 49.1 in May, in line with expectations.

Spanish services purchasing managers' index decreased to 54.8 in June from 55.7 in May, missing expectations for a rise to 55.8.

The U.K. services purchasing managers' index dropped to 57.7 in June from 58.6 in May. Analysts had expected the index to decline to 58.1.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,851.17 +34.80 +0.51%

DAX 9,980.77 +69.50 +0.70%

CAC 40 4,470.98 +26.26 +0.59%