European stocks seen higher, focus switches to US jobs 

european-stocks

European stocks opened higher on Friday as investors turned their attention to a key U.S. jobs report that could hold the key to a Federal Reserve interest rate hike this month.

The FTSE opened 0.5 percent higher, the German DAX was up 0.3 percent and the French CAC 40 up 0.3 percent.

U.S. employers were expected to have added 164,000 jobs in May, according to Reuters. U.S. stocks closed at session highs on Thursday, with health care stocks leading, ahead of the highly anticipated nonfarm payrolls report. The S&P 500 topped 2,100 for the first time in the close since April 20, ending at its highest since Nov. 3, 2015.

European stocks ended mixed to slightly lower Thursday. The European Central Bank left rates on hold as expected earlier in the session, while slightly upping its growth forecast for 2016.

Brent oil prices held around $50 a barrel on Friday following an OPEC meeting that failed to agree on output targets, but that was seen as price-supportive as Saudi Arabia pledged not to flood the market with more fuel.

Source: CNBC

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