European stocks advance after a mixed session in Asia

On Friday stocks in Europe advanced on the heels of a mixed session in Asia as corporate earnings again took a front seat. The dollar and Treasuries edged higher before the release of data later during the day, which President Donald Trump predicted will show the U.S. economy is in “terrific” shape.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index headed for its best week in almost two months as banks and telecommunications firms gained, with BT Group Plc and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA reporting earnings that exceeded analysts’ estimates. U.S. equity futures edged higher as investors looked ahead to Twitter Inc. results and the secondquarter GDP report, which may show that the U.S. economy expanded at its fastest quarterly pace since 2014.

The euro inched weaker after disappointing economic data from France, the region’s secondbiggest economy. In Asia, Japanese equities climbed for a fourth day, while stock indexes in China and Hong Kong ticked lower.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index increased 0.3 percent as of 10:39 a.m. London time, the highest in six weeks. Futures on the S&P 500 Index advanced 0.1 percent. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index increased 0.5 percent. Germany’s DAX Index gained 0.4 percent to the highest in six weeks. The MSCI Emerging Market Index climbed 0.2 percent to the highest in more than five weeks. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index jumped 0.4 percent to the highest in five weeks.

Elsewhere, West Texas crude erased a gain as an unexpected halt in Saudi shipments via a Red Sea waterway was seen as shortlived. Emerging-market stocks gained for a fourth day, heading for a one-month high. The Turkish lira pared some the losses it suffered on Thursday after President Trump threatened sanctions if the nation doesn’t release an American pastor.