LONDON — European markets were higher on Friday, as global investors awaited a key U.S. jobs report and a Supreme Court ruling on President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.5% at 10:57 a.m. in London (5:57 a.m. ET), with major regional bourses and most sectors in the green.
It was confirmed Friday morning that British mining firm Rio Tinto is in preliminary talks to acquire Swiss firm Glencore, in what could create the world’s largest mining company. Glencore was last seen trading 10% higher.
Defense stocks extended gains for a fifth consecutive day on Thursday. It looked set to add further value on Friday as the European Aerospace and Defense index had a positive start to the session, but pared gains to dip 0.3% by late morning. It follows President Donald Trump’s call for U.S. military spending to rise and continued rhetoric on Greenland.
Trump called for a 50% increase in U.S. military spending, eyeing a $1.5 trillion budget in 2027, in a TruthSocial post late Wednesday.
He has also been ramping up calls for Greenland to be brought under Washington’s control and is considering various options to make it happen — including military action. It could mean the end of NATO, given the U.S. and Denmark, which is responsible for the defense of Greenland, are both members.
Meanwhile, the CEO of mining company Amaroq told CNBC the U.S was mulling investing in critical minerals mining projects on Greenland. It comes ahead of high-stakes talks between Washington and Danish officials over the island’s future as Trump maintains its importance to U.S. national security.
Stocks on the move
Looking at individual stocks, British aerospace group Rolls-Royce hit a fresh high on Friday and was last seen 0.55% higher, buoyed by the defense sector and positive sentiment for the U.K.’s FTSE 100.
Shares of European oil companies fell this week as investors continue to react to Trump’s action in Venezuela, but pared some gains in early dealmaking on Friday. BP was up 2.2%, Shell added 2% and TotalEnergies gained 1.9%.
It’s been a busy week for U.K. retailers, with reports from Tesco, Marks and Spencer’s and Sainsbury’s. Each reported strong Christmas food sales.
Tesco lifted its end-of-year profit guidance for fiscal 2026, from £2.9bn ($3.9 bn) to £3.1bn. Its stock was last seen 1.6% lower.
Sainsbury’s reported a 3.4% rise in underlying sales for the third quarter and reiterated its full-year guidance for profit of more than £1bn, roughly in line with its last fiscal year result. Shares in the UK’s second largest supermarket chain were last seen 5% lower, sitting near the bottom of the European benchmark and putting it on track for its worst day since Dec. 8.
Elsewhere, European leaders will vote on a trade agreement with South America’s Mercosur bloc trade on Friday, which has seen strong opposition from farmers and some EU member states over concerns it could create unfair competition for European agriculture.
There are several data releases expected in Europe today, including Germany’s balance of trade. Investors may also be looking at U.S. employment data for December, due at 8.30 a.m. ET.
Defense stocks across Asia climbed Friday as investors digested the ongoing political tensions. U.S. stock futures were near flat Thursday night ahead of the key jobs report and a potential U.S. Supreme Court ruling on tariffs.
— CNBC’s Olivia Levieux contributed to this report.
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