Investing.com - European stocks slipped lower on Friday, after downbeat German trade balance data and as investors awaited the release of a key U.S. jobs report for further indications on the Federal Reserve's next policy moves.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 edged down 0.10%, France’s CAC 40 fell 0.14%, while Germany’s DAX 30 slipped 0.25%.
Official data showed that Germany's trade surplus narrowed unexpectedly to EUR14.5 billion in July, from an upwardly revised surplus of EUR15.8 billion the previous month. Analysts had expected the trade surplus to expand to EUR16.1 billion in July.
But investors were looking ahead to a highly-anticipated U.S. nonfarm payrolls report later in the day, as it was seen as key to the Fed’s decision on tapering its monthly bond purchases.
Meanwhile, concerns over a U.S. military intervention against Syria’s government persisted, as the U.S. government was set to vote next week on President Barack Obama's proposal to launch a missile strike.
At a meeting in Russia, world leaders from the Group of 20 nations put pressure on President Obama to decide against launching military strikes in Syria, which many of them fear would hurt the global economy and push up oil prices.
Financial stocks were mixed, as French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale added 0.14% and 0.18%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank slid 0.60%.
Among peripheral lenders, Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA slipped 0.02% and 0.15% respectively, while Italy's Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo retreated 0.74% and 0.99%.
On the upside, Ericsson rallied 1.67% after Credit Suisse raised its recommendation to "outperform" from "neutral", saying the mobile-network equipment maker will benefit from accelerating growth in the wireless-infrastructure market.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 eased 0.08%, weighed by losses in mining stocks.
Shares in Randgold Resources tumbled 1.18% and Evras lost 1.34%, while Fresnillo and Anglo American plummeted 1.41% and 1.54% respectively.
Meanwhile, U.K. lenders were mixed, as the Royal Bank of Scotland edged down 0.15% and Barclays slipped 0.13%, while HSBC Holdings rose 0.40% and Barclays surged 3.07%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a steady to higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.02% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.07% rise, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.15% increase.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release government data on nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 edged down 0.10%, France’s CAC 40 fell 0.14%, while Germany’s DAX 30 slipped 0.25%.
Official data showed that Germany's trade surplus narrowed unexpectedly to EUR14.5 billion in July, from an upwardly revised surplus of EUR15.8 billion the previous month. Analysts had expected the trade surplus to expand to EUR16.1 billion in July.
But investors were looking ahead to a highly-anticipated U.S. nonfarm payrolls report later in the day, as it was seen as key to the Fed’s decision on tapering its monthly bond purchases.
Meanwhile, concerns over a U.S. military intervention against Syria’s government persisted, as the U.S. government was set to vote next week on President Barack Obama's proposal to launch a missile strike.
At a meeting in Russia, world leaders from the Group of 20 nations put pressure on President Obama to decide against launching military strikes in Syria, which many of them fear would hurt the global economy and push up oil prices.
Financial stocks were mixed, as French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale added 0.14% and 0.18%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank slid 0.60%.
Among peripheral lenders, Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA slipped 0.02% and 0.15% respectively, while Italy's Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo retreated 0.74% and 0.99%.
On the upside, Ericsson rallied 1.67% after Credit Suisse raised its recommendation to "outperform" from "neutral", saying the mobile-network equipment maker will benefit from accelerating growth in the wireless-infrastructure market.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 eased 0.08%, weighed by losses in mining stocks.
Shares in Randgold Resources tumbled 1.18% and Evras lost 1.34%, while Fresnillo and Anglo American plummeted 1.41% and 1.54% respectively.
Meanwhile, U.K. lenders were mixed, as the Royal Bank of Scotland edged down 0.15% and Barclays slipped 0.13%, while HSBC Holdings rose 0.40% and Barclays surged 3.07%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a steady to higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.02% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.07% rise, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.15% increase.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release government data on nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate.