Economic calendar: Focus on BoE decision

• European markets set to open slightly lower

• Bank of England to announce policy decision at 12:00 pm BST

• Virgin Galactic, Moderna and GoPro among earnings reporters

European stock markets are set to launch today's cash trading slightly lower, following a mixed performance of equities during the Asian session. The main event of the day is Bank of England monetary policy decision scheduled for 12:00 pm BST. Bank is unlikely to make any move when it comes to interest rates. Attention will be on whether the Bank makes changes to its QE programme. Apart from that, traders will be offered trade balance data from the United States and Canada, as well as number of reports from US companies.

12:00 pm BST - Bank of England decision

1:30 pm BST - US, trade balance for June. Expected: -$74.0 billion. Previous: -$71.2 billion

1:30 pm BST - Canada, trade balance for June. Expected: -C$0.6 billion. Previous: -C$1.39 billion

1:30 pm BST - US, jobless claims. Expected: 380k. Previous: 400k

3:30 pm BST - EIA natural gas stockpiles. Expected: 19 bcf. 36 bcf

US earnings reports

• BigCommerce (BIGC.US) - after market close

• Cardinal Health (CAH.US) - before market open

• Cigna (CI.US) - before market open

• Dropbox (DBX.US) - after market close

• Duke Energy (DUK.US) - before market open

• GoPro (GPRO.US) - after market close

• Groupon (GRPN.US) - after market close

• Moderna (MRNA.US) - before market open

• Monster Beverage (MNST.US) - after market close

• Novavax (NVAX.US) - after market close

• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN.US) - before market open

• Tripadvisor (TRIP.US) - after market close

• Virgin Galactic (SPCE.US) - after market close