U.S. jobs report next on data docket By Carla Mozee, MarketWatch LONDON (MarketWatch) — European stock markets rose Friday as bank shares benefited from easing measures announced by the European Central Bank, putting the regional market on track for an eighth week of wins. The Stoxx Europe 600 index XX:SXXP +0.31% was up 0.2% at 345.52, extending Thursday’s gain, which left the index at its highest level in more than six years. Friday’s advancers included Société Générale SA FR:GLE +2.14% , as its shares rose 1.6%, and Banco Santander SA ES:SAN +1.29% SAN +0.48% , which picked up 0.9%. The Portugal PSI 20 index PT:PSI20 +1.36% outperformed other regional indexes, up 1% to 7,305, as a number of banks pushed higher. Banco Comercial Português SA PT:BCP +1.36% added 1.8%. The ECB cut interest rates on Thursday, turning the deposit rate negative for the first time, as policy makers aim to boost inflation and encourage growth through boosting bank lending and spending, among consumers and businesses. Among other equity gauges, the German DAX 30 index DX:DAX +0.17% rose 0.1% to 9,955.68, but the French CAC 40 index FR:PX1 +0.16% slipped 0.2% to 4,541.09. The FTSE 100 index UK:UKX +0.29% gained 0.3% to 6,834.37. Investors will later turn their attention to labor-market data from the U.S., the world’s largest economy, with Wall Street expecting the addition of 210,000 jobs in May. The nonfarm-payrolls report is due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. A surge in new jobs from February to April marked the best three-month stretch of hiring in two years.

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