Europe: Stocks slip at open

[LONDON] Europe's main stock markets eased at the opening with all eyes on the upcoming release of US jobs data as Brexit clouds still darkened sentiment.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index dipped 0.2 per cent compared with Thursday's close to open at 6,522.33 points.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 opened 0.3 per cent lower at 9,392.20 points and the Paris CAC 40 slipped 0.3 per cent to 4,106.65.

The June non-farm payrolls figures from Washington Friday will be pored over for clues about the Federal Reserve's interest rate plans in light of the Brexit vote, following a surprisingly low reading in May.

Fed minutes released this week seemed to point to unchanged US rates for now, but a strong jobs report could put the US central bank back on the path of tighter credit.

European stocks had risen Thursday following dovish ECB meeting minutes and disappointing German economic data.

There was more downbeat news from Germany Friday as the European powerhouse's trade surplus shrank because of falling exports, pointing to weakness in the economy.

Asian markets ended a volatile week lower, with sentiment still dominated by the fallout from Britain's European Union exit.

AFP