Europe Factors to Watch-Stocks set to extend rally ahead of U.S. jobs data

Fri Aug 2, 2013 6:23am BST
PARIS, Aug 2 (Reuters) - European stocks are expected to rise at the open on
Friday, adding to the previous session's sharp rally as investors bet U.S. jobs
figures will add to recent data signalling an improvement in economic activity.
Data due at 1230 GMT on Friday is expected to show U.S. payrolls outside the
farming sector increased by 184,000 positions in July, according to economists
polled by Reuters.

Financial spreadbetters expect Britain's FTSE 100 to open 14 to 15
points higher, or up 0.2 percent, Germany's DAX to open 37 to 38 points
higher, or up 0.5 percent, and France's CAC 40 to open 13 points higher,
or up 0.3 percent.

European shares rallied on Thursday, with the euro zone's blue-chip Euro
STOXX 50 index hitting a two-month high following a batch of
forecast-beating corporate results and upbeat manufacturing data from around the
world.

Nikkei posts biggest rise in 5 weeks; US growth optimism, weaker yen buoy

Fri Aug 2, 2013 7:25am BST
TOKYO, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average surged
3.3 percent, its biggest one-day rise in five weeks, helped by a
rally in global markets after strong U.S. economic data, a
weaker yen and some upbeat earnings reports from companies like
Sony Corp.

The benchmark Nikkei was up 460.39 points at
14,466.16, finishing above 14,400 for the first time since July
25. It advanced 2.4 percent on the week after losing 3.2 percent
in the prior week.

The broader Topix climbed 2.8 percent to 1.196.17,
with financials, real estate companies and automakers leading
the gains. Volume was light, however, with 73 percent of its
full daily average for the past 90 trading days. Markets are
now focussed on a key U.S. payrolls report due later in the
global data.

Opening Market Overview

GBP Construction PMI 57.0 51.6 51.0

FTSE100 slightly lower midday as the banks and miners suffer

USD Non-Farm Employment Change 162K 184K 195K

USD Unemployment Rate 7.4% 7.5% 7.6%

USD Average Hourly Earnings m/m -0.1% 0.2% 0.4%

USD Core PCE Price Index m/m 0.2% 0.1% 0.1%

USD Personal Income m/m 0.3% 0.5% 0.5%

USD Personal Spending m/m 0.5% 0.5% 0.3%

USD Factory Orders m/m 1.5% 2.3% 3.0%

FTSE100 ends day firmly lower as the banks and miners slip

Have a great weekend all!

Thanks for a good week.....

Alan.