Investing.com - European stocks turned mostly lower on Friday, after downbeat German data, while markets eyed the release of a key U.S. employment report later in the day amid speculation over a possible near-term end to the Federal Reserve's stimulus program.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 slipped 0.28%, France’s CAC 40 edged down 0.17%, while Germany’s DAX 30 fell 0.22%.
Official data showed that German factory orders dropped 1.3% in May, confounding expectations for a 1.2% increase, after a 2.2% decline the previous month.
Meanwhile, investors were awaiting Friday’s closely watched U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for further clues on when the Fed may decide to unwind its USD85 billion-a-month stimulus program.
Data on Wednesday showed that the U.S. private sector added 188,000 jobs in June, more than expectations for an increase of 160,000.
Financial stocks remains mostly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale jumped 0.99% and 2.28%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank gained 0.38%.
However, among pripheral lenders, Spanish banks BBVA and Banco Santander declined 0.58% and 2.44%, while Italy's Unicredit edged up 0.21%.
Elsewhere, Heineken slid 0.31% after JPMorgan downgraded the stock to "underweight" from "neutral".
In London, FTSE 100 climbed 0.42%, supported by gains in financial stocks.
Shares in Barclays advanced 0.49% and HSBC Holdings rallied 1.29%, while the Royal Bank of Scotland surged 1.66%. Lloyds Banking erased earlier gains however, dipping 0.03%.
Meanwhile, mining stocks remained broadly lower, as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto plummeted 1.47% and 1.56% respectively, while Anglo American retreated 1.41%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.88% increase, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.87% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.93% climb.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 slipped 0.28%, France’s CAC 40 edged down 0.17%, while Germany’s DAX 30 fell 0.22%.
Official data showed that German factory orders dropped 1.3% in May, confounding expectations for a 1.2% increase, after a 2.2% decline the previous month.
Meanwhile, investors were awaiting Friday’s closely watched U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for further clues on when the Fed may decide to unwind its USD85 billion-a-month stimulus program.
Data on Wednesday showed that the U.S. private sector added 188,000 jobs in June, more than expectations for an increase of 160,000.
Financial stocks remains mostly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale jumped 0.99% and 2.28%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank gained 0.38%.
However, among pripheral lenders, Spanish banks BBVA and Banco Santander declined 0.58% and 2.44%, while Italy's Unicredit edged up 0.21%.
Elsewhere, Heineken slid 0.31% after JPMorgan downgraded the stock to "underweight" from "neutral".
In London, FTSE 100 climbed 0.42%, supported by gains in financial stocks.
Shares in Barclays advanced 0.49% and HSBC Holdings rallied 1.29%, while the Royal Bank of Scotland surged 1.66%. Lloyds Banking erased earlier gains however, dipping 0.03%.
Meanwhile, mining stocks remained broadly lower, as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto plummeted 1.47% and 1.56% respectively, while Anglo American retreated 1.41%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.88% increase, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.87% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.93% climb.