European stocks poised to begin 2025 with optimism

European markets are set to kick off 2025 in positive territory on Thursday.

According to IG's data, the U.K.'s index is predicted to open 8 points higher at 8,163, Germany's index is expected to rise 45 points to 19,870, France's index is anticipated to increase by 8 points to 7,364, and Italy's index is projected to surge 120 points to 34,490.

After the New Year's Day holiday, regional bourses are reopening with markets that were open on New Year's Eve closing higher, having gone into the break on a positive note.

There are no major earnings or data releases Thursday.

Several major markets resumed trading after the New Year holiday, with China stocks leading losses among Asian stocks that traded mixed overnight.

As trading began for 2025, U.S. stock futures were slightly higher, with traders hoping the market would regain the momentum that led to two consecutive years of annual gains above 20%.

Despite weak trading in the final days of 2024, the US stock market still produced solid gains. The S&P 500 surged 23% last year, while the 30-stock Dow added nearly 13%. The Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a 29% advance, fueled by the enthusiasm around artificial intelligence and interest rate cuts.

On Thursday, investors will evaluate the consequences of the deadly attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day, which is being probed as a potential terrorist act.

The FBI stated that the suspect, who drove a truck into a crowd, may not have been entirely responsible for the incident, resulting in the death of at least 15 people.

— CNBC's Christina Cheddar Berk contributed to this market report