European Shares Decline Before Important Data

European shares fell on Friday, as cautious investors awaited US jobs data and eurozone inflation for indications of the pace of major central banks tightening monetary policy.

By 0819 GMT, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down 0.2 percent. The chemical and travel sectors faced pressure and fell for the second consecutive session.

All eyes are on Eurozone inflation data at 1000 GMT and US jobs data at 1330 GMT, after indications from the Federal Reserve that monetary policy is tightening have turbulent stock markets this week.

Deutsche Bank shares jumped 2.7 percent to a more than six-month high. The German bank’s director of financial operations told Handelsblatt newspaper in an interview that the company is confident of achieving its profit target this year.

French-Italian ST Microelectronics shares rose 3.7 percent, topping the STOXX 600 index after its fourth-quarter earnings data came in slightly above expectations announced at the end of October amid a global supply crisis.