The pan-regional STOXX 600 index rose 0.6% by 0717 GMT, on track for its best weekly performance in two months. France’s CAC 40 outperformed its euro-peers with a 0.9%, helped by French pharma giant Sanofi.

Those concerns blunted some of the optimism, with liquidity light during Asian trading as China and Hong Kong markets were shut for a public holiday.

Financial markets are pricing in a 67% chance of a cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve at its July 31 meeting while there is a near 60% chance of a second easing by New Zealand and Australian central banks next month.

Investors are now focused on the U.S. employment report later in the day for further cues about the health of the world’s largest economy.

Market forecasts are for jobs to rise a solid 185,000 in May and unemployment to stay at a low 3.6%, though much was in doubt after dismal data on private hiring released earlier in the week.

· Japan’s Nikkei rose on Friday as reports that Washington is considering a delay in tariffs on Mexican imports eased wider concerns about weakening global trade.

The Nikkei share average ended 0.5% higher at20,884.71. For the week, the index rose 1.4%.

Investor sentiment recovered slightly after Mexican and U.S. officials held a second day of talks on trade and migration on Thursday, amid reports President Donald Trump might delay the imposition of tariffs that are due on Monday.

But trading was thin as most investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of a U.S. jobs report that will probably do little to dial back market expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut rates this year.

Reference: Reuters, CNBC