European shares are seen opening the day lower as concerns that the closely watched labor market data out of the U.S. will show only modest improvement.
The FTSE 100 is seen opening lower by 21 points, Germany’s DAX is called down by 31 points and the CAC 40 lower by 17 points.
Overnight, Asian shares declined, as did crude oil, following U.S. services sector data that showed tepid growth and no major movement from the European Central Bank at its meeting in Barcelona Thursday.
Facebook, the social media giant, revealed details of its much anticipated IPO on Thursday with its initial public offering priced at $28 and $35 dollars a share, giving it a valuation of as much as $95.9 billion. Shares will be priced on May 17 with trading beginning May 18.
Incumbent French President Nicolas Sarkozy is seen headed for a loss in Sunday’s presidential elections, as the final day of campaigning gets under way. Sarkozy’s performance in a televised debate Wednesday received a lukewarm response, and he was further hampered when far right and centrist candidates refused to endorse him.
Elections will also take center stage in troubled Greece, where voter dissatisfaction with severe austerity measures is expected to punish the main parties, New Democracy and Pasok, which have endorsed the country’s bailout and its conditions.
London awaits the results of its mayoral elections, with Conservative incumbent Boris Johnson bidding for his second four-year stint in office. His main challenger is Ken Livingstone, the Labour Party candidate, who is hoping to re-take the seat after he won it first time around in 2000.