European equity markets were set to open modestly lower on Thursday as investors braced for a heavy slate of central bank policy decisions across the region. The Bank of England is widely expected to cut its policy rate by 25 basis points to 3.75% amid easing inflationary pressures, although policymakers are likely to signal that further rate reductions may be some way off. The European Central Bank is expected to keep rates unchanged at 2% while potentially upgrading its growth projections. Sweden’s Riksbank and Norway’s Norges Bank are also seen holding policy steady at 1.75% and 4%, respectively. On the corporate front, British energy major BP appointed Meg O’Neill as its next chief executive officer, following disappointing returns from its strategic shift toward renewable energy. In premarket trading, Euro Stoxx 50 futures were down 0.1%, while Stoxx 600 futures slipped 0.2%.