Europe is expected to open on a more positive note on Thursday following a positive session in Asia overnight, where investors were boosted by rising expectations that the Federal Reserve won’t raise interest rates this year. Yesterday’s retail sales report was just the latest to cast serious doubts over the strength of the U.S. recovery at a time when the Fed is struggling to convince the markets that now is the time for a rate hike. Weak numbers for September and downward revisions for August delivered another double blow to the Fed, you have to wonder how long it will be before the knockout punch is finally ... (full story)