LONDON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - European shares edged up on Friday, with the technology sector supported by strong results from U.S. peer Google and oil majors gained as crude prices climbed towards $83 on the back of a weak dollar.
Some caution, however, was expected ahead of a speech by the U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, which could provide clues on what officials are planning to do to support the economy.
By 0708 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was up 0.2 percent at 1,086.35 points, after closing 0.2 percent lower on Thursday.
Strong quarterly results from Google and U.S. chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices helped European technology firms rise, with ASML Holding, Infineon and STMicroelectronics up 0.4 to 0.7 percent.
"Sentiment after hours are pretty good after those numbers (from Google). Investors will take the Google numbers well but with some caution and look ahead to Bernanke and U.S. data due later this afternoon," said Giles Watts, head of equities at City Index.
On the downside, Old Mutual lost 4 percent after the Financial Times reported that HSBC could drop out from an $8 billion bid for South Africa's Nedbank. (Reporting by Harpreet Bhal)