European markets opened slightly higher on Friday.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 traded up around 0.1% shortly after the opening bell, with sectors pointing in opposite directions.

— Sam Meredith

U.K. house prices rose 2.4% on an annualized basis in October, mortgage lender Nationwide said on Friday, reflecting a weaker increase than September’s growth of 3.2%.

The building society said house prices rose 0.1% on a monthly basis in October, down from a 0.6% increase in the month prior.

“Housing market activity has remained relatively resilient in recent months, with the number of mortgage approvals approaching the levels seen pre-pandemic, despite the significantly higher interest rate environment,” Robert Gardner, chief economist at Nationwide, said in a statement.

“Solid labour market conditions, with low levels of unemployment and strong income gains, even after taking account of inflation, have helped underpin a steady rise in activity and house prices since the start of the year,” he added.

— Sam Meredith

The release of U.S. jobs data on Friday is “absolutely key” to the Federal Reserve’s decision-making ahead of the central bank’s meeting next week, according to Isabel Albarran, investment officer at Close Brothers Asset Management.

Speaking to CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” on Friday, Albarran said it was “very difficult” to make the case for another jumbo interest rate cut of 50 basis points when Fed policymakers meet on Nov. 6-7.

“Labor market data remains absolutely key to Fed decision-making,” Albarran said.

“I think the great news has been that initial jobless claims have been so much stronger than people had expected given the magnitude of the storm season but, as you mentioned, we have had that strike action, so this could be a little bit of a softer print,” she added, referring to hurricanes Helene and Milton and the strike at Boeing.

“I think the Fed are going to be relatively sanguine about that given how much resilience we have seen in broader economic data coming out of the U.S. though,” Albarran said.

— Sam Meredith

Equity markets rallied this year, as investors remained bullish on Big Tech but also scooped up shares in under-the-radar companies.

CNBC Pro touched base with Kevin Teng, CEO of Wrise Private Singapore, for his take on the stocks he favored at the start of the year, as well as names he’s betting on before the year’s end.

The wealth manager — whose firm serves ultra-high-net-worth individuals across Asia, the Middle East and Europe — revealed his three stock picks, including two under-the-radar names.

CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here on the three stocks he’s betting on now.

— Amala Balakrishner

European markets are expected to open mixed on Friday.

The U.K.’s FTSE 100 is poised to open 8 points higher at 8,113, Germany’s DAX 6 points higher at 19,060, France’s CAC up 8 points at 7,342 and Italy’s FTSE MIB down 22 points at 34,008, according to data from IG.

It comes shortly after European stocks closed lower on Thursday, ending October with its steepest loss for year as investors weighed a flurry of corporate earnings, inflation data and a landmark U.K. budget.

— Sam Meredith