STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Stock index futures point lower

Stock index futures point to sharp falls for European shares, after Wall Street surrendered most of its earlier gains on Wednesday.

The Federal Reserve stated on Wednesday that it would keep rates close to zero for "an extended period".

DJ Euro Stoxx STXEc1 futures are down 1 percent, and Germany's DAX futures FDXc1 and France's CAC-40 futures FCEc1 are both down 1.1 percent.

EUROPEAN COMPANIES REPORTING:

BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) Q3

Unilever (ULVR.L) Q3

Cable & Wireless (CW.L) H1