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(Sharecast News) - European stock markets were higher on Friday, as traders eyed US jobs data later in the day.
The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was up 0.25% to 551 at 1152 BST with most major bourses higher. France's CAC 40 fell 0.08% as political worries persisted over an upcoming confidence vote amid a row over the government's budget plans.
US payroll data released on Thursday increased the odds of a rate cut by the US Federal Reserve as the numbers did not indicate a severe downturn due to President Donald Trump's chaotic trade policies. Attention will turn to a non-farm payroll report for further indications.
Economists are expecting a reading of 75,000 jobs added for August. up slightly from the 73,000 in July. The unemployment rate is expected to inch up to 4.3% from 4.2%, and average hourly earnings are expected to drop slightly to a 3.8% annual rate from 3.9% in July.
"There is a sense that the August report could be pivotal for financial markets. A reading around consensus would be a sign that the US labour market is slowing down sharply," said XTB research director Kathleen Brooks.
"It would be the latest in a series of weaker employment data points, after weaker job openings and a 54k reading for ADP private sector payrolls last month."
"Initial jobless claims also ticked up last week to the highest level since June. Combined, this data paints a picture of a rapidly softening labour market."
On the regional economics front, factory orders in Germany unexpectedly fell in July, declining by their most in six months, following a significant drop in transport orders.
Price-adjusted new orders in manufacturing fell by 2.9% in July after seasonal and calendar adjustments, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
That was the third straight decline after a revised 0.2% decrease in June, missing the 0.5% increase expected by economists. This was the steepest fall since January.
In equity news, Hexagon shares surged after the Swedish firm said it will sell its design and engineering unit to US-based Cadence Design for $3.1bn.
Temenos tanked as the banking software group said chief executive Jean-Pierre Brulard was leaving with immediate effect.
Orsted fell after the Danish wind farm developer lowered its annual operating profit outlook.
Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com