Oil prices fell and stocks were mixed on Thursday in thin holiday trading, following weak US economic data that added to growth concerns.

Several markets were shut in Europe and Asia for the May 1 holiday, including in France, Germany, Hong Kong and mainland China.

Among markets that were open, London was flat, while Tokyo climbed over one percent after Japan's central bank kept its key interest rate steady and warned of trade uncertainty.

Oil plunged under $60 per barrel, weighed down by disappointing economic data from the US on Wednesday and on expectations that OPEC will increase production more than expected in June.

Lower oil prices impacted energy giants BP and Shell, with their shares falling three percent and two percent respectively on London's FTSE 100 index.

"Oil prices are at lows not seen since........

© International Business Times