European stocks were mostly higher on Friday as upbeat readings on German as well as Eurozone private sector helped investors shrug off renewed geopolitical tensions.
Investors also looked ahead to U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit speech later in the day and the German federal election, due this weekend for further direction. It is widely expected that Chancellor Angela Merkel will win a fourth term.
The euro strengthened against its major rivals after data showed German private sector activity grew at the fastest pace in almost six-and-a-half years in September.
Eurozone business activity also picked up to its highest level since May, signaling robust growth momentum in the region.
Separately, flash data from IHS Markit revealed that France's private sector expanded the most since May 2011. The composite PMI rose unexpectedly to a 76-month high of 57.2 in September.
The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index was up 0.2 percent at 383.46 in late opening deals after rising 0.2 percent in the previous session to close at its highest level since July 20.
The German DAX was moving up 0.3 percent, France's CAC 40 index was rising half a percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 0.3 percent.
French cosmetics giant L'Oreal rallied 3 percent on speculation about the future of the company after billionaire Liliane Bettencourt died at the age of 94.
Mining stocks were broadly lower as renewed geopolitical tensions as well as China's rating downgrade pulled down metal prices.
Swedish telecom company Telia slid half a percent after it agreed to pay a combined total penalty of more than $965 million to resolve charges arising out of a scheme to pay bribes in Uzbekistan.
British outsourcing firm Capita lost 1 percent as staff represented by trade union Unite has voted in favor of industrial action.
Smiths Group shares fell as much as 3.5 percent after the conglomerate reported a fall in underlying full-year revenue.
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