European stocks were slightly lower on Friday as investors awaited the release of euro zone inflation data.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down around 0.2% shortly after the opening bell, with most sectors and major bourses in negative territory.
It comes after the benchmark regional index closed up around 0.45% in the previous session.
France’s CAC 40 index dipped 0.2% on Friday, paring gains from the previous session. It comes shortly after the country’s risk premium drew level with Greece’s for the first time amid ongoing political turmoil.
On the data front, investors will closely monitor flash euro zone inflation data for November, due to be released at 10 a.m. London time. The reading comes ahead of the European Central Bank’s last meeting of the year on Dec. 12.
Across the Atlantic, U.S. markets reopen for a shortened trading session after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Asia-Pacific markets mostly lost ground on Friday, led by losses in South Korean stocks, while strong inflation data from Tokyo boosted expectations of an imminent rate hike from the Bank of Japan.