European Shares Inch Higher In Cautious Trade Ahead Of US Jobs Data

European stocks were modestly higher in cautious trade on Friday as investors monitored oil price movements and awaited the U.S. jobs report later in the day for additional clues on the Fed’s rate trajectory.

Brent crude futures surged toward $83 a barrel, building on the previous session’s gains amid doubts over ongoing efforts to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global energy supplies.