Europe: Stocks open mixed ahead of US jobs data

[LONDON] Europe's stock markets wavered on Friday in opening deals as investors awaited key US data and mulled the global interest rate outlook.

In initial trade, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 0.3 per cent to 7,299.41 points, one day after the Bank of England surprised traders by holding UK interest rates.

In the eurozone, the Paris CAC 40 also gained 0.3 per cent to breach the level of 7,000 points for the first time while Frankfurt's DAX index was a fraction lower at 16,024.22.

Equities around the world enjoyed a healthy run-up Thursday after the Federal Reserve finally announced its plan for tapering the vast bond-buying programme that has provided crucial support since it was put in place at the start of the pandemic.

AFP