Market Update
European markets opened higher Friday ahead of a batch of economic data.
The FTSE was up 0.3% lower. The CAC 40 Paris was up 0.6% while the German DAX rose 0.5%.
Both French and Spanish industrial output rose more-than-expected in December, official data showed earlier.
Industrial and manufacturing output data are due from the U.K. and investors are also focused on the economic growth figures from the euro zone later in the day.
Earlier Friday, Asian stocks ended mixed following a weak trade report from China.
Stocks on the Move
Tullow Oil PLC was up 3.3% in London. Bloomberg reported late Thursday the company is amongst a list of possible acquisition targets for Norway's Statoil.
French insurer AXA SA gained 1.5% after it said it successfully placed a subordinated debt issuance of 750 million pounds sterling.
In financials, BNP Paribas was up 1.1% while in Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank rose 0.7%.
Elsewhere, Swiss watch-maker Swatch Group was up about 4% after the company said it expects dynamic growth this year even as it missed its yearly sales target by a small margin.