In corporate news, electricals retailer Currys CURY.L reported a 7% rise in like-for-like sales for the 17 weeks to August 29 on Thursday, and staying in Britain, Associated British Foods ABF.L said Primark's like-for-like sales are expected to be down 3% in its fourth quarter to September 12.
Elsewhere, Swedish defence group Saab SAABb.ST said the Netherlands has signed a letter of intent with Sweden for the acquisition of a Saab GlobalEye Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft.
European markets are mostly looking to start the day on a slightly upbeat note, ahead of the European Central Bank's interest-rate decision - and perhaps, more interestingly to some, comments from the central bank's President Christine Lagarde.
The ECB is widely expected to hike rates later in the day, and investors are hoping for some hints about whether more tightening could be ahead.
Markets might struggle to get too bullish though, given Brent crude futures LCOc1 are sat just above $100 a barrel, as a resolution to the Iran war seems far from imminent.
Euro STOXX 50 futures STXEc1 and DAX futures FDXc1 are up 0.2% and CAC futures FCEc1 are 0.1% higher, while FTSE futures FFIc1 are a touch lower.
