1) The Bank of England pointed to a possible increase in interest rates early next year, after only one of its top policymakers backed an immediate move and the Bank forecast a slow pick-up in inflation from zero thanks to a strong pound.
2) International Business Machines Corp (N:IBM) said it would buy Merge Healthcare Inc (O:MRGE), which provides medical images and clinical systems, in a $1 billion deal. Merge Healthcare shareholders will get $7.13 per share at a premium of 31.8 percent over Wednesday's close, the companies said.
3) U.S. oil futures fell to the lowest level in more than four months on Thursday, while Brent traded close to a six-month low, amid perceptions that a global supply glut may stick around for much longer than once anticipated.
4) U.S. stocks opened little changed on Thursday as investors took to the sidelines ahead of Friday's jobs data, which could signal the timing of an interest rate hike.
5) The U.S. dollar was steady against its Canadian counterpart on Thursday, hovering near the previous session's 11-year high after data showed that U.S. jobless claims rose less than expected last week.
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