Europe open: Shares up ahead of US jobs data; Tech stocks struggle

(Sharecast News) - European shares were higher on Thursday as investors eyed US jobs data later in the day, while tech stocks were down after a sell-off in Asia. The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was up 0.13% at 0819. Germany's DAX was flat, Britain's FTSE 100 gained 0.11%, France's CAC 40 0.48% and Italy's MIB rose 0.37%.

US markets are expecting a slightly cooler June employment readout with economists pencilling in around 110,000-114,000 new jobs, signalling a slowdown from May's strong 172,000 gain. The data has been brought forward by a day due to the Independence Day public holiday.

Oil prices fell further as talks between US and Iranian officials towards a permanent ceasefire appeared to be making progress. Brent crude was down 1.56% to $70.45 while US West Texas Intermediate fell 1.57% to $67.50 a barrel.

In equity news, shares in Sodexo jumped as the French food caterer raised its full-year organic revenue growth forecast.

Tech stocks were in the red after shares of heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix plunged in South Korea on the back of a slump in tech-heavy US Nasdaq Composite.

ASM International, Nokia, ASML, Infineon and BE Semiconductor were all lower

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com