Market Update
European markets were trending flat to lower Friday with investors waiting for further cues from the U.S. jobs data due later in the day.
The FTSE slipped 0.2%. The CAC 40 Paris also declined 0.2% while the German DAX was down 0.3%.
Data earlier today showed Germany's wholesale price index fell less-than-expected in February.
Data also showed the French trade balance fell unexpectedly last month, showing a deficit of 5.7 billion from 5.2 billion in January. Analysts were hoping for a trade balance of 4.6 billion.
German industrial production data is due slightly later.
The euro traded almost unchanged against the U.S dollar after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi on Thursday left the benchmark interest rate at 0.5% with the latest data indicating a continued moderate economic recovery in the euro-zone. However, shares gave up gains after some investors were left disappointed at the lack of further stimulus measures.
Stocks on the Move
RBS and Barclays PLC both edged marginally higher at the open while HSBC was down 0.7%. Standard Chartered fell 0.8%.
Airbus Group was down 0.2% while Total SA slipped 0.6%. The company is reportedly planning to raise 750 million euros from selling its liquefied gas unit, according to French daily Les Echos.
Christian Dior SA edged up 0.2%. The company said it has started the process to convert its legal status from that of a French public limited-liability company to that of a European company.
Daimler AG was up 0.3%. The company said it expects to turn a profit with trucks in India in 2017. It plans to set up a bus manufacturing plant at the existing site of its Indian subsidiary's plant near the city of Chennai.