LONDON — European stocks were poised for a higher open Friday as traders continue to monitor the escalating conflict in the Middle East and look ahead to the latest U.S. jobs report.
The FTSE 100 was seen opening up 7 points at 8,281, Germany’s DAX 38 points higher at 19,029, France’s CAC up 23 points at 7,489 and Italy’s FTSE MIB 100 points higher at 32,171, according to IG data.
It comes after the Stoxx 600 shed 1% Thursday as geopolitical tensions have contributed to a shaky start to October.
Investors are looking ahead Friday to the September’s payrolls report, with U.S. futures little changed overnight.
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Friday following losses Thursday on Wall Street, with concerns over Middle East tensions keeping investors on edge in the run up to September’s U.S. payrolls report.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index extended its rally, however, on China’s stimulus program, with markets on the mainland still closed for the Golden Week holiday.
Back in Europe, earnings come Friday from U.K. pub chain J D Wetherspoon, while France releases its industrial production data and the U.K. prints construction data.