The major European averages are trading in positive territory in early afternoon trading Friday, buoyed by encouraging industrial output data from the Eurozone. Crude for April delivery is up $0.54 per barrel at $82.65 and gold is trading higher by $5 an ounce at $1113.2.
On the economic front, Eurostat said Eurozone's industrial output increased 1.4% year-on-year in January, compared to the revised 4.1% fall in the previous month. Economists expected a decrease of 1.6%.
Germany's Federal Statistical Office said the wholesale price index increased 2.1% on an annual basis in February, faster than January's 1.9% growth. Economists expected an increase of 2.3%. Wholesale prices were down 5.7% last year.
The People's Bank of China will take actions faster to correct excessive monetary easing, Nikkei reported quoting Assistant Governor Guo Qingping
In the U.S. important data on retail sales, consumer sentiment and business inventories are scheduled to be released later in the day.
After opening at 5,617, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 has been in positive territory for most of the session. The German DAX opened above the flat mark at 5945 and has remained in the green ever since. France's CAC 40 had a slightly higher opening at 3,934, and after witnessing some initial weakness the index is showing strength.
The FTSE is gaining 0.26% and the DAX is up 0.68%. The CAC 40 is adding 0.58%.
In London, Imperial Tobacco, which received an analyst downgrade, is losing 0.76%, followed by beverages giant SABMiller, which is sliding 0.73%. HSBC Holdings is down 0.68%. However, banks in general are seeing the upside on the FTSE 100. Royal Bank of Scotland is rising 4.63% and Lloyds Banking Group is up 4.29%. Barclays and Standard Chartered are notably higher.
Among miners, Vedanta Reources is adding 2.08%, while BHP Billiton and Antofagasta are trading lower. Rio Tinto is adding 0.44%.
On the DAX, personnel care products maker Beiersdorf and detergent maker Henkel are moderately slipping. The winners are being led by Commerzbank, which is gaining 3.44%. Deutsche bank is up 2.09%.
In Paris, shares of grocery retailer Carrefour are shedding 2.09% after an analyst downgrade. Utility EDF and EADS, the maker of Airbus planes, are on the losing side. The winners include banks Dexia and Societe Generale and Credit Agricole, adding 2.42%, 1.60% and 1.11%, respectively. BNP Paribas is moderately up. Car makers Peugeot and Renault are making notable gains.
Across Asia, China's Shanghai Composite closed down 1.24% and Japan's Nikkei 225 added 0.81%, while India's BSE Sensex edged down 0.01%. Australia's All Ordinaries ended higher by 0.12%.
In the U.S., the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures are above the flat mark, signaling a slightly higher opening for the U.S. markets. In the previous session, the Dow gained 0.4%, the Nasdaq advanced 0.4% and the S&P 500 rose 0.4%.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.