High Street retailers are dealing with the same pressures as their US counterparts and more.
"A player on a sports team might prefer a particular strategy, but it's the coach's opinion that matters the most," said DRW Holdings market strategist Lou Brien, in a research note.
European stocks were indicated to open higher on Friday, the first day of the second quarter, with investors eagerly awaiting the U.S. non-farm payroll numbers for March.