European markets open higher as politics dominates the news agenda

European stocks are expected to open higher on Thursday, with the U.K., Germany, France, and Italy all showing modest gains, as investors focus on political developments including Prime Minister Keir Starmer's vulnerable leadership position and potential leadership challenges. President Donald Trump's visit to China for a summit with Xi Jinping is also drawing significant market attention, with hopes that discussions on trade and stabilizing U.S.-China relations could impact global markets.