London's benchmark FTSE 100 index won a couple of points to 6,714.15 compared with the close on Thursday.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 shed 0.4 percent to 10,573.08 points and the Paris CAC 40 lost 0.4 percent to 4,672.77.

Fresh political turbulence in Washington and renewed fears over US-China relations pushed Asian markets lower Friday, one day after sharp losses in New York and around the globe.