Investing.com - European stocks were steady to higher on Friday, as investors turned their focus to U.S. employment data due later in the day for indications on the strength of the world’s biggest economy.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.23%, France’s CAC 40 eased up 0.02%, while Germany’s DAX 30 inched 0.05% higher.
European equities remained supported after European Central Bank board member Benoit Coeure signaled Wednesday that the ECB will ease monetary policy this month.
Coeure said it was “vital” to stimulate economic growth and boost inflation after prices in the euro zone fell 0.2% in February.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) rallied 1.18% and 1.35%, while Germany’s Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) and Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) added 0.06% and 0.85%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy’s Unicredit (MI:CRDI) and Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) gained 0.11% and 0.84% respectively, while Spanish banks BBVA (MC:BBVA) and Banco Santander (MC:SAN) jumped 0.98% and 1.06%.
Elsewhere, Thyssenkrupp AG (DE:TKAG) O.N. (VX:TKAGEUR) advanced 1.33% after Societe Generale restated their buy rating on the stock.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 gained 0.48%, boosted by sharp gains in the mining sector.
Shares in Antofagasta (LON:ANTO) and Bhp Billiton (LON:BLT) rallied 2.74% and 2.85% respectively, while Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) clinbed 2.87% and Glencore (LON:GLEN) surged 5.59%.
Financial stocks added to gains, as Barclays (LON:BARC) advanced 0.45% and Lloyds Banking (LON:LLOY) climbed 0.65%, while HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) gained 0.80%. The Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) underperformed, with shared edging down 0.09%.
Also on the upside WPP (LON:WPP) jumped 1.23% after the advertising firm said full-year pre-tax profit increased by 2.8% in 2015.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a steady to lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.12% slip, S&P 500 futures a 0.13% fall, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.06% dip.