Investing.com - European stocks were higher on Friday, ahead of euro zone data later in the day, as better-than-expected U.S. economic reports on Thursday led U.S. and Asian equities higher.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.46%, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.30%, while Germany’s DAX 30 climbed 0.56%.
The Department of Labor said on Thursday that the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell by 12,000 to 334,000, compared to expectations for a decline of 1,000 to 345,000.
Separately, the Commerce Department said U.S. retail sales rose 0.6% in May, led higher by increased automobile purchases, beating forecasts for a 0.4% increase.
Core retail sales, which exclude auto sales, were up 0.3%, in line with expectations.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as shares in French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale jumped 1.27% and 1.84%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank advanced 0.72%.
Peripheral lenders added to gains, with Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA rallied 1.14% and 1.34% respectively, while Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo climbed 0.45%.
Elsewhere, Fiat slipped 0.18% amid reports the Italian carmaker may sign a deal with nine banks this month to refinance EUR1.95 billion in credit to prepare to buy the remaining stake in Chrysler.
Barry Callebaut was also on the downside, plummeting 1.91%, after the supplier to Nestle sold new shares to generate CHF279 million. The shares were being offered at CHF870 to CHF880.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 rose 0.31%, supported by gains in mining stocks.
Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton gained 2.06% and 0.70%, while Anglo American climbed 0.66%.
Meanwhile, financial stocks were mixed. Barclays and Lloyds Banking advanced 0.73% and 1.10%, while HSBC Holdings and the Royal Bank of Scotland declined 0.44% and 0.08% respectively.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a steady open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.02% dip, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.06% loss, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.02% gain.
Later in the day, the euro zone was to release official data on consumer price inflation, while the U.S. was to publish data on producer price inflation, industrial production, the capacity utilization rate, the current account and preliminary data from the University of Michigan on consumer sentiment.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.46%, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.30%, while Germany’s DAX 30 climbed 0.56%.
The Department of Labor said on Thursday that the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell by 12,000 to 334,000, compared to expectations for a decline of 1,000 to 345,000.
Separately, the Commerce Department said U.S. retail sales rose 0.6% in May, led higher by increased automobile purchases, beating forecasts for a 0.4% increase.
Core retail sales, which exclude auto sales, were up 0.3%, in line with expectations.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as shares in French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale jumped 1.27% and 1.84%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank advanced 0.72%.
Peripheral lenders added to gains, with Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA rallied 1.14% and 1.34% respectively, while Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo climbed 0.45%.
Elsewhere, Fiat slipped 0.18% amid reports the Italian carmaker may sign a deal with nine banks this month to refinance EUR1.95 billion in credit to prepare to buy the remaining stake in Chrysler.
Barry Callebaut was also on the downside, plummeting 1.91%, after the supplier to Nestle sold new shares to generate CHF279 million. The shares were being offered at CHF870 to CHF880.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 rose 0.31%, supported by gains in mining stocks.
Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton gained 2.06% and 0.70%, while Anglo American climbed 0.66%.
Meanwhile, financial stocks were mixed. Barclays and Lloyds Banking advanced 0.73% and 1.10%, while HSBC Holdings and the Royal Bank of Scotland declined 0.44% and 0.08% respectively.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a steady open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.02% dip, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.06% loss, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.02% gain.
Later in the day, the euro zone was to release official data on consumer price inflation, while the U.S. was to publish data on producer price inflation, industrial production, the capacity utilization rate, the current account and preliminary data from the University of Michigan on consumer sentiment.