(MENAFN- AFP) European stock markets recovered some lost ground on Friday following heavy losses the previous day, as investors looked ahead to key US jobs data.
London's benchmark FTSE 100 index gained 0.79 percent to stand at 6,497.44 points around midday in the British capital and in Paris the CAC 40 was up 0.45 percent at 4,261.74.
Frankfurt was closed for a public holiday, while Madrid gained 0.83 percent and Milan climbed 0.64 percent in value compared with Thursday's closing levels.
Friday's focus was on the United States, with economists expecting on average that the world's biggest economy added 210,000 jobs in September after a disappointing 142,00 in August.
"With QE finishing up this month, in the US it is all about interest rate expectations when we look at" the jobs data, said Will Hedden at IG trading group.
"With the dollar retreating from its highs, a strong number north of 200,000 is expected to help push it back."
In the US, the Federal Reserve is very close towards ending its quantitative easing (QE) stimulus programme.
The Fed is also expected to begin raising its ultra-low interest rates from next year as the US economy strengthens.
In foreign exchange trading, the euro fell to $1.2633 from $1.2667 late in New York on Thursday. The European single currency gained to 78.59 British pence from 78.46 pence, while the pound dropped to $1.6074 from $1.6144.
The price of gold dipped to $1,207.74 an ounce from $1,211.75 Thursday on the London Bullion Market.
Europe's stock markets had meanwhile plunged on Thursday after investors appeared disappointed at the limited extent of the European Central Bank's plans to launch its contested purchases programmes.
The ECB as expected left its key interest rates unchanged, holding its main "refinancing" rate steady at 0.05 percent after cutting it last month.
And ECB chief Mario Draghi announced that the bank will start covered bond and asset-backed security (ABS) purchases, aimed at injecting cash into the stagnant eurozone economy.
But European equities sank on the news, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index falling 1.69 percent to end the day at 6,446.39 points.
In Paris, the CAC 40 tumbled 2.81 percent, while Frankfurt's DAX index lost 1.99 percent. Other European exchanges also slumped with Madrid down 3.12 percent and in Milan the market lost 3.92 percent.
In London on Friday, shares in EasyJet soared 6.27 percent to 1,457 pence after the no-frills airline lifted its full-year profits forecast. EasyJet said that a record-long strike by pilots at Air France had caused passengers to switch to the British carrier.
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