LONDON: European stocks traded around multi-month highs on Friday in what looked to set to be a turbulent session against a backdrop of mixed signals about US budget talks.
The FTSEurofirst 300 was up 0.1 percent at 1,123.00 by 0931 GMT, having jumped 1.1 percent on Thursday to its highest close since July 2011 on expectations US politicians would reach a deal to stop the world's biggest economy falling off a 'fiscal cliff' of tax rises and spending cuts.
But House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner dampened investors' optimism after the European market close, lowering hopes of a budget deal soon and sending US shares temporarily lower.
"We're going to be playing a little bit of tennis as far as comments are going to be concerned from the US politicians over the coming weeks, unfortunately, over how close we are to getting anything done with the fiscal cliff issue," Alastair McCaig, analyst at IG, said.
Still, some investors are taking a positive stance.
"I would say that both sides have no interest in going over the cliff," Philippe Gijsels, head of research at BNP Paribas Fortis Global Markets in Brussels, said.
"I think there will be some kind of agreement over the next week, or week and a half, maybe a little bit longer. Markets will anticipate that, so the underlying tone of the market will clearly be strong."
Technical factors, however, were likely to keep a check on gains.
The Euro STOXX 50, currently up 0.2 percent at 2,585.47, faces resistance at around 2,600 points, the upper end of a 150-point range seen since early September, as concern about the US fiscal cliff and debt-laden euro zone countries curbed a boost from central bank stimulus measures.
BROKER BOOST
Broker recommendation changes were behind a number of share price moves on Friday.
HeidelbergCement was the top FTSEurofirst 300 riser, up 2.8 percent, as Morgan Stanley upgraded its rating for the firm to "overweight", making the stock its top Building & Construction sector pick for the near term.
Overall Goldman cut its stance for the sector to "in-line" on a strong year-to-date performance and a less positive global outlook, while downgrading its rating for HeidelbergCement's Italian peer Buzzi Unicem to "underweight", citing a higher valuation and lower cash generation for the near-term owing to operating losses in Italy. Buzzi Unicem shares shed 1.1 percent.
French luxury group LVMH also saw good gains, ahead 2.7 percent after Goldman Sachs upgraded it to 'buy' from 'neutral', forecasting an improvement in demand from China.
Meanwhile, British testing, inspection and certification firm Intertek Group advanced 1.4 percent, with Berenberg lifting its stance on the stock to "buy".
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