European stocks higher before US jobs data

European stock markets rose Friday, outperforming Asian equities, as traders geared up for key US jobs data for fresh indications on the state of the global economy. From London, to Frankfurt, Paris, Madrid and Milan, stock markets were rising. "It's been a quiet but positive start for European markets with large swathes of Asia headed for Lunar New Year celebrations ahead of the latest US unemployment report for January," noted analyst Jasper Lawler at traders CMC Markets.