European Equities Show Strength Before High-Stakes Alaska Meeting

European markets opened higher on Friday, with investors closely watching the premarket trends ahead of the highly anticipated meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.

Trump Optimistic About Peace Deal Between Russia and Ukraine

President Trump expressed optimism about the potential for peace in Ukraine, stating that Putin "wants to make a deal" and believes both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "will make peace".

Economic Indicators in Focus

Aside from geopolitical developments, investors are also awaiting the release of Switzerland's gross domestic product report later today, which could provide further direction for the markets.

At 8:01 am CET, key European indices showed positive movements: the DAX advanced by 0.28%, the CAC 40 gained 0.32%, the FTSE 100 added 0.50%, and the Euro Stoxx 50 jumped by 0.50%.

Currency markets also saw activity, with the euro adding 0.20% against the dollar and the pound improving by 0.17% versus the greenback, trading at $1.16706 and $1.35518, respectively, at 7:59 am CET.