london european markets are set for a cautiously higher open on friday looking to eke out a positive week as investors continue to watch economic data the covid19 situation and corporate earnings britains ftse 100 is seen around 35 points higher at 7291 germanys dax is set to climb around 68 points to 16290 and frances cac 40 is expected to gain around 30 points to 7172 according to ig data shares in asiapacific were mixed on friday with hong kong stocks falling sharply as several of the regions biggest tech names came under pressure alibabas hong konglisted shares plunged more than 10 as the technology behemoth missed revenue and earnings expectations stateside stock futures were higher in early premarket trading as wall street hovers just below recent record highs after a strong round of earnings from several big names on thursday back in europe the rapid spread of covid is once again front and center with multiple countries experiencing record daily caseloads imposing partial lockdowns and tightening rules on the unvaccinated on the data front uk retail sales increased 08 monthonmonth in october slightly exceeding the 05 expected by economists in a reuters poll excluding fuel sales grew by 16 on the month against a 06 forecast with the country facing spiking energy prices final euro zone harmonized inflation figures for october and construction output for september are due at 10 am london time