European equities enter fourth quarter mixed

Europe's stock markets began the final quarter of the year on a mixed note Thursday as investors welcomed improving Chinese data but remained cautious on the eve of a key US jobs report. European markets had pushed higher in morning trading, cheered by a modest improvement in an official gauge of Chinese factory activity that sent Asian equities and emerging market currencies rallying for a second straight day. China's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) of manufacturing activity in September came