European shares edge higher on boost from chipmakers ahead of U.S. jobs data

European shares edged higher on Friday on a boost from semiconductor makers, while investors awaited a closely watched monthly jobs report from the United States later in the day.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.2%, with technology stocks rising 0.6%.

Semiconductor maker ASML Holding (AS:ASML) NV rose 0.5% after Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MU) said it plans to start using ASML EUV machines in production in 2024, while ASM International NV rose nearly 1% as it forecast higher order intake in the second quarter.

France’s SMCP slipped 0.9%, along with Zara owner Inditex (MC:ITX) after a judicial source told Reuters that the companies were subject to an investigation as they are suspected of concealing “crimes against humanity” in China’s Xinjiang region.

Investors awaited data which would likely show U.S. job growth picked up in June.

Also on the radar is producer prices data for the euro zone during the month of May, scheduled to be released at 0900 GMT.