On Friday European stocks fluctuated, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index poised to snap three weeks of losses, before a report that may show the labor market in the world’s largest economy has begun to improve. U.S. futures were little changed and Asian shares gained.

Berkeley Group Holdings Plc climbed 3.9% after the U.K.’s second-biggest homebuilder by market value said first- half profit increased 21% as it sold more houses. STMicroelectronics NV rallied 4.5% after Exane BNP Paribas recommended buying the shares of Europe’s largest semiconductor maker.

European shares were slightly lower early on Friday after strong gains in the previous two sessions, and with the market awaiting direction from the US monthly non-farm payrolls report. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down, after rising 3.7% over the previous two sessions. But some analysts remained optimistic. French retailer Carrefour was among the fallers, down 1.4%, having cut its profit forecast earlier in the week.

U.K. stocks swung between gains and losses, after the biggest two-day rally for the FTSE 100 Index since May. Russia is in talks with Deutsche Boerse AG about creating an alliance with Moscow’s two biggest stock exchanges to boost listings and trading in the face of competition from London and Hong Kong, two people involved in the negotiations said.

Russia is in talks with Deutsche Boerse AG about creating an alliance with Moscow’s two biggest stock exchanges to boost listings and trading in the face of competition from London and Hong Kong, two people involved in the negotiations said.

Japanese stocks rose, sending the Nikkei 225 Stock Average to a fifth straight weekly gain, as US housing and retail data bolstered confidence in a global economic recovery. The Nikkei 225 rose 0.1% while the Topix index advanced 0.2%.