Europe: Stocks ahead at open

[LONDON] European stock markets rose at the start of trading on Friday, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index up 0.26 per cent at 6,991.36 points.

Elsewhere, the CAC 40 in Paris gained 0.40 per cent to 5,049.56 points and Frankfurt's DAX 30 won 0.29 per cent to 11,593.20 compared with Thursday's close.

Asian equities mostly advanced Friday following a healthy rally on Wall Street, while Tokyo was supported by a weaker yen.

Wall Street jumped Thursday as expectations the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates have fizzled in the wake of a string of soft economic indicators.

AFP