European Shares Steady Amid U.S. Jobs Data, Trade Tensions

European shares remained mostly flat or edged slightly lower as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of the pivotal U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, which is expected to influence Federal Reserve policy amid ongoing trade tensions. President Donald Trump's recent doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminum has escalated trade disputes, while a 90-minute phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping focused on trade negotiations, though without concrete resolutions. The European Central Bank's recent interest rate cut and signals from President Christine Lagarde that the bank's easing cycle may be ending have tempered expectations for further monetary stimulus. Major European indices such as the STOXX 600, FTSE 100, CAC 40, and DAX showed modest declines or held steady, with some pressure on shares of sportswear companies following profit forecast downgrades. Investors are also monitoring regional economic data releases, including Eurozone GDP, retail sales, and employment figures, as global economic uncertainty persists. Overall, markets are balancing cautious optimism about trade talks with concerns over economic growth and central bank policies.