Europe: Stocks steady before US jobs data

[LONDON] Europe's main stock markets steadied at the start of trading on Friday with all eyes on US jobs data due before the weekend break.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index opened at 6,364.82 points, unchanged from Thursday's close.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index dipped 0.14 per cent to 10,872.98 points and in Paris, the CAC 40 fell 0.30 per cent to 4,964.88.

Investors are closely watching the US jobs report after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Wednesday that if the country's economic activity remains solid the central bank could decide to increase interest rates before the end of the year.

"The pace of jobs growth has slowed in recent months but Janet Yellen's comments... suggest that she has seen the numbers and that they will not be an impediment to a December rate hike," said Neil MacKinnon, economist at VTB Capital financial group.

AFP