From Nasdaq:

European stocks are expected to open slightly higher on Friday as investors react to mixed economic data from China and await earnings from large U.S. banks later in the day. China’s exports growth for December in U.S. dollar terms beat expectations, while imports rose slightly less than estimated. However, China’s inflation data showed a softer fall than expected in the CPI, but PPI remained in contraction for the 15th consecutive month. Geopolitical tensions remained high after Iran seized an oil tanker and the U.S. and U.K. launched strikes against Iran-backed Houthi militants. Asian markets were mixed, with Japan’s Nikkei extending its record-breaking rally. The dollar showed little strength ahead of U.S. producer price inflation data, and gold and oil prices traded higher.

U.S. stocks climbed off their worst levels of the day to end mixed as hotter-than-expected inflation data dented rate cut hopes. The CPI reading accelerated to 3.4 percent year-on-year in December, and the core inflation rate slowed to 3.9 percent. Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester stated that it was premature to consider cutting interest rates, while Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin said the latest data did little to clarify the path of inflation. European stocks ended notably lower on Thursday, with the pan European STOXX 600 giving up 0.8 percent, the German DAX shedding 0.9 percent, France’s CAC 40 dropping half a percent, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 declining 1 percent.



Read more: European Shares Seen Tad Higher At Open As China’s Exports Rise