European stock futures and Asian equities gained as commodity prices climbed and Rio Tinto Group scrapped an investment by China in favor of a $15.2 billion share sale. U.S. futures were little changed before a report that may show unemployment in America surpassed 9 percent. Rio Tinto, the world’s third-largest mining company, and BHP Billiton Ltd. jumped more than 8 percent in Australia. Lafarge SA, the biggest cement maker, may climb after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. recommended the stock. Futures on the Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 Index, a benchmark for the euro region, added 0.6 to 2,506 at 7:02 a.m. in London. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index may increase 41, according to Cantor Index, a betting firm. British stocks may rise even as Gordon Brown’s future was in doubt after James Purnell resigned from the Cabinet, telling the U.K.’s prime minister he is leading his Labour Party to defeat and should step down. Today’s deals allow Rio to reduce $38.9 billion in debt without selling stakes in its largest mines to Chinalco, as the state-owned company is known, which investors said favored the Chinese company and drew criticism from Australian politicians. “The news that Rio Tinto has abandoned plans to sell more of the stock to Chinalco is likely to dominate,” Matthew Buckland, a dealer at CMC Markets in London, wrote. “With Rio confirming its rights issue and the joint venture announcement with BHP Billiton pushing both stocks higher in Sydney, we’re expecting the resource stocks to push ahead in London.” Weekly Performance Europe’s Stoxx 600 is heading for its fifth weekly gain in six, adding 0.6 percent since May 29. The measure has gained 33 percent from a 12-year low March 9 on speculation that the $12.8 trillion pledged by the U.S. government and the Federal Reserve will help to end the first global recession since World War II. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 0.7 percent today, extending the gauge’s third straight weekly gain to 1.7 percent. Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 0.1 percent before a Labor Department at 8:30 a.m. in Washington that may show unemployment exceeded 9 percent in May for the first time in more than 25 years, according to estimates by economists. The S&P 500 is poised for its third straight weekly advance, increasing 2.5 percent since May 29. Rio Tinto jumped 8.4 percent in Australia, while BHP soared 8.7 percent. Rio Tinto investors will be offered 21 new shares for every 40 they hold at 1,400 pence each, 49 percent below yesterday’s close in London, the company said. BHP agreed to pay Rio $5.8 billion to form an Australian iron ore joint venture. Copper and aluminum futures advanced in Shanghai on investors’ optimism that the global recession is easing, while the risk of inflation may be increasing. Lafarge, Nestle Lafarge and Remy Cointreau SA, France’s second-largest liquor company, were raised to “buy” from “neutral” at Goldman Sachs and added to the “Conviction Buy” list. Nestle SA, the world’s largest food company, was cut to “neutral” from “buy” at Goldman Sachs. Deutsche Bank AG, Germany’s biggest bank, was raised to “hold” from “sell” at ING Groep NV. SAP AG, the world’s largest maker of business-management software, could spend up to 5 billion euros ($7 billion) for acquisitions, Chief Executive Officer Leo Apotheker said in an interview with French daily Le Figaro.

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