European shares higher as US-China trade talks end; Kingspan rises 10%
In earnings, Kingspan shares rose 7 percent as the building materials firm reported a rise in trading profits for its first half and gave a positive outlook for the rest of the year.
On the data front, there will be mortgage approval numbers out in the U.K. at 9.30 a.m. London time.
European shares pushed edged higher Friday following U.S.-China trade talks and ahead of a key speech by Jerome Powell, the chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve .
The pan-European Euro Stoxx 600 index was up 0.1 percent with most sectors trading in positive territory. Basic resources — with their heavy exposure to China — were the best performers. This comes despite trade talks between the U.S. and China ending without any progress Thursday, the same day that new tariffs began.
New data for Germany showed that all sectors of its economy grew in the second quarter, confirming earlier figures of a robust uptick. In the U.K., mortgage approval numbers fell on the year with consumer credit also slowing.
Meanwhile, Fed Chairman Powell is expected to give a speech at 10 a.m. ET (5 p.m. London time). The address comes after recent comments from President Donald Trump that he wasn't thrilled with the work of the central bank.
Back in Europe, minutes from the last European Central Bank meeting showed protectionism and a global trade war are the biggest risks to the euro zone growth.
In earnings, Kingspan KRX-IE shares rose 10 percent as the building materials firm reported a rise in trading profits for its first half and gave a positive outlook for the rest of the year.
More From CNBC
