Morning Markets: German growth lifts FTSE

The FTSE opened 40 points higher on Friday as positive economic news from Germany and France buoyed investors.

London's leading index advanced more than 38 points, or 0.71%, to reach 5,303 shortly after opening.

Second quarter GDP data published earlier today showed the German economy grew at its fastest pace since reunification in 1990, jumping 2.2% from Q1. Elsewhere, French GDP rose a better-than-expected 0.6%.

Lloyds Banking Group is among the early risers, climbing almost 2% to 72p, while Tiu Travel gained 3.7% to 199.7p following two days of losses.

Across Asia, stocks were in a more upbeat mood following recent struggles, but uncertainty over whether Japanese authorities will move to curb the yen's recent strength stunted gains in Tokyo.

Japan's Nikkei added 0.5%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.2%, while China's Shanghai Composite was up 0.7%.

On Wall Street on Thursday, stocks fell for a third day in succession as disappointing US jobs data also sent jitters across the market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.6% to 10,319.95.