European Stocks to Edge Higher, But Quarter-End Trade Keeps Markets Tight

European stocks are expected to open modestly higher Friday as global investors round out an active quarter of trading dominated by geo-political risks and central bank policy signalling.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index, the broadest measure of share prices, looks set to add small gains to its 1.8% third quarter advance at the opening bell, with Germany's benchmark DAX index rising 8 points, or 0.07% and France's CAC-40 slipping by an equal percentage amount.

Britain's FTSE 100 is also looking at a small 8 point gain at the bell, according to financial bookmakers IG, a move that will keep the benchmark in positive territory for the quarter, but only just barely.

Currency markets were largely unchanged overnight, with the dollar index consolidating its weekly gain of 1.1%, the best of the year, as investors reprice assets in the wake of the Federal Reserve's signalling and potential stimulus in the form of corporate tax cuts.

Overnight in Asia, the region's MSCI ex-Japan benchmark was marked 0.13% higher into the start of European trading while Japan's Nikkei 225 gave back around 0.1% of its 1.48% quarterly gain despite a host of improving economic metrics.

U.S. crude prices too a breather from their torrid September run, which has seen prices rise more than 9%, with West Texas Intermediate crude futures for November delivery marked 0.23% lower at $51.44 per barrel.

Brent crude prices, which have gained 10% so far this month and came within about 40 cents of the $60 dollar mark, were seen 0.6% lower at $57.01.

Early indications from U.S. futures prices are equally mixed, with Dow Mini futures pointing to a modest single-point gain at the opening bell and S&P Mini futures suggest a slightly larger slip at the start of trading for the broader measure of share prices after its record-high close last night.