Europe: Stock markets fall at open

[LONDON] Europe's main stock markets fell at the open on Friday, as investors awaited key US jobs data for clues on the outlook for interest rates in the world's biggest economy.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index dropped 0.5 per cent to 6,085.02 points compared with Thursday's close.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index shed 0.5 per cent to 9,805.39 points and the Paris CAC 40 lost 0.7 per cent in value to begin at 4,290.41.

"European markets look set to finish lower for the second week in succession as concerns about a weakening growth outlook and the efficacy of central bank policy in combating it start to weigh on sentiment," said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at trading group CMC Markets UK.

All eyes were on the US Labor Department which on Friday releases jobs figures for April, with expectations of a slowdown in new posts.

AFP