Stocks mixed

Stocks were mixed on Friday, with U.S. futures drifting, European shares higher and most Asian equities slipping as markets remained on edge after a tumultuous week dominated by worries over protectionism. Italian bonds slumped, while core European debt gained with Treasuries.

S&P 500 index futures struggled for traction ahead of the U.S. jobs report, which is expected to show unemployment ticking down. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced for the first time in three days, powered by a rally in banking stocks after Credit Agricole SA beat earnings estimates. Italian bonds dropped for a third day before a budget meeting between populist leaders and the finance minister. The dollar maintained gains and the yield on 10-year Treasuries ticked back below 3 percent.

The Trump administration’s unpredictability on trade kept markets on the back foot this week even against the backdrop of a mostly positive earnings season and an upbeat assessment of the American economy by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, Turkey’s lira, bonds and stocks extended their slide after the U.S. imposed sanctions on two government ministers over the detention of an evangelical pastor.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.5 percent as of 10:44 a.m. London time, the largest rise in more than a week. Futures on the S&P 500 Index fell less than 0.05 percent. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index gained 0.5 percent. Germany’s DAX Index gained 0.6 percent. The MSCI Emerging Market Index climbed 0.1 percent, the first advance in a week. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dipped 0.2 percent to the lowest in more than two weeks.

Oil rallied from the lowest level in more than a month amid signs the drain from the biggest U.S. supply hub will continue. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 0.3 percent to $69.16 a barrel. Gold fell less than 0.05 percent to $1,207.70 an ounce, the weakest in almost 17 months. This article was compiled by BOV Asset Management Limited, a member of the BOV Group. BOV Asset Management,TG Complex, Suite 2, Level 3, Brewery Str., Mriehel BKR 3000. Email: infoassetmanagement@bov.com Internet address: www.bovassetmanagement.com. BOV Asset Management is licensed by the MFSA.