European shares were marginally higher in early trade on Friday, as a stronger dollar underpinned export-oriented stocks such as automakers, though the gains were capped by weaker mining stocks.
By 0812 GMT, the pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.2 per cent, slightly extending gains made in the previous session.
Among automakers, Volkswagen was the biggest gainer. The stock rose 1.2 per cent after a source told Reuters that the German group and its labour unions had agreed to 30,000 job cuts by 2021 as part of a plan to boost profitability and fund a shift to electric and self-driving cars.
Europe's basic resources index, which includes big London-listed miners, was the biggest sectoral loser following gains in the previous session. Shares in Glencore, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton were all down more than 2 per cent.