 "Traders work at their desks in front of the German share price index")
European shares rose on Friday, but stayed within recent tight ranges as investors waited key US jobs data later in the day for clues about the US Federal Reserve's next interest rate hike.
The pan-European STOXX index was up 0.3 per cent by 0848 GMT, following a flat close in the previous session, with gains among defensive stocks such as healthcare and utilities partly offset by weaker banks.
US employment growth likely moderated in August, but was probably still strong enough to push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates later this year.
Economists expect US non-farm payrolls to have increased by 180,000 jobs last month. The data is due at 1230 GMT.
Some investors said a number between 130,00 and 190,000 would confirm expectations for one rate hike in December, while for a September hike a figure well above 200,000 is needed.
"We still maintain our view that there will be no September hike. Theoretically, a strong data today could push the central bank to act, especially in view of its now obviously damaged credibility," Swissquote Bank market analyst Arnaud Masset said.
"However, in our view, US economic health is largely overestimated and so we do not predict a strong figure today," Masset added in a note.
The STOXX bank index fell 0.3 per cent, snapping a three-day winning streak fuelled by expectations of a rate hike in the United States as early as September.
The index was the worst sectoral faller in Europe.
Shares in Banco Santander, Barclays and Deutsche Bank were down between 0.8 per cent and 1.2 per cent, while Intesa Sanpaolo added 0.9 per cent.
SBM Offshore plunged 11.4 per cent, leading the STOXX losers, after prosecutors in Brazil rejected a deal allowing the Dutch oil-ship lessor to avoid prosecution for corruption related to contracts with oil group Petrobras.
Rocket Internet fell 8.5 per cent after the German e-commerce investor reported a first-half loss mainly due to impairments at Global Fashion Group.
Accor was the biggest gainer, up 3.4 per cent, boosted by an upgrade from Barclays, while the best sectoral performers in Europe were utilities and healthcare which rebounded from recent losses.
