European equities were seen gaining ground on Thursday, recovering after the previous session's sharp losses as rising commodity prices help support heavyweight mining and energy shares.
But gains could be limited as investors brace for quarterly GDP figures for Germany, due at 0600 GMT, France, at 0645 GMT, and the eurozone, at 0900 GMT.
Financial bookmakers, or spread betters, in London expected Britain's FTSE 100 index to open between 31 and 34 points higher, the German DAX 21 to 28 points higher, and the French CAC 40, 20 to 26 points higher.
Oil gained nearly $1 and moved closer to $117 a barrel, adding to strong gains in the previous session, as a larger-than-expected drawdown in U.S. crude and gasoline inventories revived supply worries, while Shanghai copper prices bounced nearly 1 percent and zinc hit its upside limit.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares lost 2.4 percent on Wednesday, as renewed fears about the impact of the credit crisis hit financial shares again.