Europe close: Stocks end week mostly on an up note

European shares were mostly higher on Friday as investors digested the latest and apparently stronger-than-expected monthly US jobs data and political developments in London after the ill-tempered resignation, but not departure, of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was up 0.51% to 417.12 after solid rises over the previous two days.

Most major continental markets were higher alongside, with the UK’s FTSE adding 0.1% after Boris Johnson resigned as Conservative Party leader but refused to leave as prime minister following a string of scandals and allegations of cronyism that finally forced ministers to revolt.

Spain's Ibex 35 was the exception, drifting 0.27% lower to 8,100.3.

Market sentiment was however hit by the shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot while campaigning for a parliamentary election.

US non-farm payrolls rose by 372,000 in June, versus a consensus forecast for a reading of 250,000.

However, the alternate measure of labour market demand contained in the same report, but which is derived from a different survey to that which yields the payrolls data, dropped by 315,000 people.

At least a few economists said the latter belied slower hiring.

In equity news, shares in French power company EDF rose 6% as the government prepared to nationalise the troubled business.