A sharply lower number might be seen by markets as giving confidence to the Federal Reserve that its work is done. Consumer inflation data on Wednesday - the most important scheduled release of the week - did little to change expectations the Fed will not rates interest rates at next week's meeting. Thursday's main event globally is the ECB rate decision. Ahead of the decision the euro was up a touch against the dollar, but near a three month low at $1.0739. Chinese auto makers' shares fell on the news of the European probe, as did European car makers after the Chinese response.

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Persons: Kate Masters, Alun John, you've, Toby Chopra Organizations: company's Herald, REUTERS, Central Bank, Federal Reserve, European Commission, Arm Holdings, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Macy's, company's, New York City, U.S, Thursday's, Europe, Beijing, European