The pan-European Stoxx 600 was flat with the different sectors struggling to make clear gains.
· Asian shares wavered on Friday as investors were on edge before a crucial weekend meeting between the Chinese and U.S. presidents that could determine the course of a heated trade war over the next year.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan wobbled between positive and negative territory in early trade, as more evidence of a slowdown in China dampened sentiment. It was last up less than 0.1 percent and has risen 2.7 percent for the week so far, largely reflecting a rebound from a recent steep sell-off.
· Japan’s Nikkei edged up to a three-week high on Friday supported by defensive stocks and petroluem shares, but gains were limited as investors braced for the weekend meeting between the leaders of the United States and China.
Market participants remain sidelined ahead of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, where President Donald Trump was due to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to discuss trade and other thorny issues.
The Nikkei share average rose 0.4 percent to 22,351.06, the highest closing level since Nov. 8.
• China stocks rose on Friday in thin trading volume, amid caution ahead of a most-awaited meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina.
The Shanghai Composite index was up 0.8 percent at 2,588.19, gaining 0.3 percent for the week. The blue-chip CSI300 index was up 1.1 percent, climbing 0.9 percent for the week.
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