LONDON — European stocks are expected to open around the flatline on Thursday as global investors are awaiting the latest reading of U.S. inflation.

United Kingdom’s FTSEindex opens at 7.637, Germany’s lowest point. DAXFrance: France has an increase of 9 points to 15,480 CAC 40 up 18 points at 7,142 and Italy’s FTSE MIBAccording to data from IG, the point was down at 27.103

Investors around the world are eagerly awaiting Thursday’s inflation data. The U.S. Labor Department will release January’s Consumer Price Index figures.

Inflation data will show prices rising 0.4% in January. This would represent a 7.2% increase from one year earlier, which would make it the largest gain in nearly 40 years. The reading follows a stronger-than-expected January jobs report, which has led to speculation that the Federal Reserve could be more aggressive when it comes to hiking rates.

U.S. stock futuresOn Wednesday night, they were slightly higher than expected due to key inflation data shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed.

Earnings come from Credit Suisse, Unilever, Siemens, Zurich Insurance, AstraZeneca and Société Générale on Thursday with data releases including Turkey’s unemployment rate for December.