European stocks were higher Friday, extending positive momentum after the pan-European benchmark closed at a record high in the previous session.
The Stoxx 600 index was up 0.1% in early deals, with most sectors trading in positive territory. Autos stocks were up 0.7% in early deals, while telecom stocks fell 1.1%.
The benchmark index ended the session 0.82% higher at 495.1 Thursday, surpassing its previous record close of 494.35 on Jan. 5, 2022, LSEG data showed.
Investors will digest earnings from Allianz, BASF and Standard Chartered on Friday, while fourth-quarter gross domestic product data is due from Germany.
U.K. consumer confidence dipped in February, new survey data from GfK showed Friday, indicating that higher inflation continues to weigh on hopes of an economic upturn.
U.S. stock futures were little changed Friday, after the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite posted their best day since early 2023.
In Asia-Pacific, markets were mostly higher, with China stocks rising for the ninth straight session as investors digested property prices data. The CSI 300 index was flat by midday trading after rising about 0.4% at the open, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dipped 0.2%.