LONDON: Europe's main stock markets lost ground at the start of trading on Friday, as traders eagerly awaited non-farm payrolls data in the United States.
In initial deals, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index dipped 0.1 percent to 7,469.63 points compared with the close on Thursday.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index also shed 0.1 percent to 12,138.09 points and the Paris CAC 40 retreated 0.2 percent to 5,122.40.
The key US jobs report could provide clues on the strength of the world's top economy and the odds of an additional Federal Reserve rate hike this year.
"European shares are trading little changed this morning ahead of today's closely watched US employment data," noted analyst Markus Huber at trading firm City of London Markets.
"With the Fed expected to raise rates only one more time this year and inflation having moderated a bit of late, this set of job data might not necessarily impact the timing of the next rate hike too much.
"Instead traders will be looking for confirmation that the US economy is continuing to power ahead."
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.