The UK factory PMI is due at 4.30 am ET Thursday. Economists forecast the index to fall to 47.4 in December, as initially estimated, from 48.9 in November.

Ahead of the data, the pound held steady against its major rivals.

The pound was worth 1.3222 against the greenback, 143.89 against the yen, 1.2813 against the franc and 0.8478 against the euro as of 4:25 am ET.

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