European stocks were set to open steady on Friday, taking a breather from their sharp two-month rally that has propelled regional indexes to 7-year highs, with BASF in focus after posting forecast-beating results.
Quarterly operating earnings at the world’s largest chemicals company rose a better-than-expected 2.8 per cent, as strong farming pesticides and basic petrochemicals businesses offset the hit from lower crude prices on its oil and gas division.
Financial spreadbetters expected Britain’s FTSE 100 to open 3 to 4 points lower, or down 0.1 per cent, Germany’s DAX to open 3 to 4 points lower, or down 0.04 per cent, and France’s CAC 40 to open 11 to 12 points lower, or down 0.2 per cent.