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Here are the top five things you need to know in financial markets on Thursday, June 2:
1. OPEC meets in Vienna
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ closely-monitored meeting kicked off in Vienna at 08:00GMT, or 4:00AM ET. The oil cartel is due to release a statement following the conclusion of the summit at around 14:00GMT, or 10:00AM ET, although no dramatic announcement on a production cut is expected.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the meeting, Saudi Arabia’s oil minister, Khalid Al-Falih, said the oil group’s strategy of letting the market rebalance itself out on its own appeared to be working.
Brent was up 25 cents, or 0.5%, at $49.97 a barrel by 9:55GMT, or 5:55AM ET, after rising to a high of $50.30, while U.S. crude tacked on 20 cents, or 0.4%, to $49.21.
Traders will also eye weekly government stockpile data from the U.S. due at 15:00GMT, or 11:00AM ET, amid expectations for a drop of 2.5 million barrels.
2. ECB policy decision, Draghi in focus
The European Central Bank's interest rate decision is due at 11:45GMT, or 7:45AM ET, with most of the focus likely to be on President Mario Draghi's press conference 45 minutes after the announcement. The consensus is that the ECB will stand pat on rates and reaffirm its focus on implementing the stimulus package announced in March.
The ECB will also release updated inflation and growth forecasts, with some analysts expecting the bank to raise its projections for inflation and growth.
3. U.S. employment data due ahead of the bell
The U.S. was to release the ADP jobs report for May at 12:15GMT, or 8:15AM ET, followed by weekly jobless claims data at 12:30GMT, or 8:30AM ET.
Market players are also focusing on Friday's U.S. nonfarm payrolls report. The consensus forecast is that the data will show jobs growth of 162,000 last month, following an increase of 160,000 in April, the unemployment rate is forecast to dip to 4.9%, while average hourly earnings are expected to rise 0.2% after gaining 0.3% a month earlier.
Solid readings could further heighten expectations for a move as soon as the Federal Reserve's next policy meeting on June 14-15.
Traders are now pricing in a 20% chance for a rate hike in June and 58% in July, according to CME Group's (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch tool. September odds were at about 66%.
4. Global stocks mostly higher ahead of key risk events
U.S. stock futures pointed to a flat open on Thursday, as market players looked ahead to key U.S. data later in the day for more clues on the Federal Reserve’s next move.
Elsewhere, European stock markets were marginally higher, as investors waited to hear about monetary policy from the European Central Bank and oil output policy from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Earlier, Japan's Nikkei tumbled 2% after the government moved to delay a sales-tax hike for more than two years, bucking mostly higher markets around the region.
5. Dollar moves further away from 2-month highs
The U.S. dollar retreated further from a two-month high against a basket of major currencies early Thursday. The dollar index was down 0.15% at 95.28, moving further away from Monday’s two-month peak of 95.96.
The greenback fell to a two-week low of 108.84 against the yen and was last down 0.5% at 109.01 (USD/JPY), while the euro touched a two-week peak of 1.1220 and last traded at 1.1202, up 0.1% (EUR/USD).
