European shares stable as investors await for US jobs data

European shares were little changed on Friday as investors waited for a closely watched U.S. jobs report and trade talks between China and the United States continued. The pan-region STOXX 600 index was up 0.1 per cent at 0730 GMT, set for its best weekly rise in three weeks. Most European markets were higher, but Germany's tariff-sensitive DAX slipped lower. German industrial output rose in February, some good news for Europe's largest economy. All eyes will now be on the U.S. non-farm payrolls report for March due later in the day, which is expected to show a recovery from February's 17-month low.

U.S. President Donald Trump said a U.S.-China trade deal could be announced within four weeks, but he warned China it would be difficult to let trade continue without an agreement. More complications arose for a possible merger of Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank. The European Central Bank will ask Deutsche Bank to raise fresh funds before it gives the go-ahead for the deal, a source told Reuters.

The demand could complicate a bid to create Europe's third-largest bank out of Germany's top two lenders, who have struggled to recover since the financial crisis. Shares of both banks were slightly higher.

SES shares jumped more than 6 per cent after the company's successful launch of medium earth orbit satellites. Swiss producer and supplier of polymers and chemicals Ems Chemie climbed 5 per cent after it beat first-quarter net sales target.

Ladbrokes owner GVC Holdings Plc shares rose after it posted 8 per cent growth in quarterly net gaming revenue. Hammerson Plc dragged down STOXX 600 real estate shares after Jefferies trimmed its price target for the British shopping centre operator. Zurich Insurance Group AG shares came under pressure as it traded ex-dividend.

(With inputs from agencies.)