European Factors-Shares seen halting losing streak

European stocks were seen mixed on Thursday, as investors take a breather after a sharp three-session retreat and brace for the Bank of England's interest rate decision.

Financial spread betters expected Britain's FTSE 100 to open down 4 points to up 1 point, Germany's DAX to open up 4 to 6 points, and France's CAC-40 to open up 7 to 8 points.

The Bank of England, whose decision is due at 1200 GMT, is seen leaving its 200 billion pound ($326.7 billion) asset purchase programme unchanged and keeping interest rates at 0.5 percent, and most analysts reckon it will not alter policy until February.

European stocks ended at their lowest in more than a week on Wednesday, dragged lower by shares of financial institutions, as market sentiment deteriorated after Standard & Poor's cut its outlook on Spain to negative.