Reuters

(Reuters) - European stocks were muted on Thursday, as investors took a breather after recent gains and awaited the Bank of England's policy decision later in the day, while shares of Spanish bank Sabadell jumped after rival BBVA's hostile takeover bid.

The pan-European STOXX 600 edged 0.1% lower by 0720 GMT, after notching record-closing highs for two straight days.

Automobiles was the worst hit sector, down 1.2%, dragged by a 5.5% drop... (continue reading...)

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nissan Motor posted a 3% rise in fourth-quarter operating profit on Thursday while warning that it expects to keep facing intense competition and inflationary pressure this financial year.

The automaker posted an operating profit of 90.3 billion yen ($579.59 million) in January-March, far short of the average estimate of 118.2 billion yen from eight analysts surveyed by LSEG.

($1 = 155.8000 yen)

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Communities and workers near the site of a fire at a fuel tank terminal in Thailand's eastern province have been ordered to urgently evacuate as the blaze was likely to spread, the industry ministry said on Thursday.

One person was confirmed dead and three hospitalised according to a statement from the owner of the facility, Siam Cement group. The ministry in a statement said the owner was currently controlling the situation.

QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Gunmen shot and killed seven labourers near southwestern Pakistan's Gwadar port early on Thursday, police said.

Police official Mohsin Ali said the gunmen stormed into a house some 25 km (15 miles) east of the port city and shot and killed the labourers in their sleep.

The port city is located in troubled southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.

No one has claimed... (continue reading...)

NICOSIA (Reuters) - A vessel carrying aid to a pier built by the U.S. off Gaza set sail from Cyprus on Thursday, marine tracking websites showed.

The U.S. flagged Sagamore left the port of Larnaca on Thursday morning. U.S. officials have said the vessel will be used to offload supplies onto a floating pier built to expedite aid into the besieged enclave.

There was no immediate comment from Cypriot authorities, which had earlier said the... (continue reading...)