In initial trade, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of major blue-chip companies rose almost 0.2 percent to 7,039.37 points from the closing level on Thursday.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 fell about 0.1 percent to 11,578.85 points, while the Paris CAC 40 rose by nearly 0.1 percent to stand at 5,119.64.