European stocks are trading around their openings in today's session ahead of the ECB interest decision and press conference scheduled for 12:45 and 13:30 GMT in Frankfurt. Market participants bet on additional stimulus to be announced.

Markets also await data on U.K.'s interest rate decision, asset purchase facility and the MPC rate statement and later in the day the U.S. initial jobless claims.

Earlier in the day U.K.'s Halifax House Price Index was published reading +0.4% in November, compared to -0.4% in October. The House Price Index for 3 months year on year decreased to +8.2% with a previous reading of +8.8%.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading negative losing -0.12% quoted at 6,708.65 points, Germany's DAX 30 added +0.19% at 9,990.50, just below the important 10,000 points level. France's CAC 40 lost -0.09%, currently trading at 4,387.98 points.