European stock markets mid session: stocks traded lower ahead of the release of the U.S. labour market data

Stock indices traded lower ahead of the release of the U.S. labour market data. Analysts expect that U.S. unemployment rate is expected to decline to 5.2% in August from 5.3% in July. The U.S. economy is expected to add 220,000 jobs in August, after adding 215,000 jobs in July.

The better-than-expected U.S. labour market data will add to speculation that the Fed starts raising its interest rate this month.

Meanwhile, the economic data from the Eurozone was mostly negative. Markit Economics released its retail purchasing managers' index (PMI) for Eurozone on Friday. Eurozone's construction purchasing managers' index (PMI) slid to 51.4 in August from 54.2 in July.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the sector.

Sales in Germany increased, while sales in France and Italy declined.

"There was some payback, though the PMI indices for year-on-year sales and gross margins remained close to their recent highs, pointing to solid underlying trends," an economist at Markit, Phil Smith, said.

German seasonal adjusted factory orders dropped 1.4% in July, missing expectations for a 0.6% decline, after a 1.8% rise in June. June's figure was revised down from a 2.0% increase.

The decline was driven by a drop in foreign orders. Foreign orders plunged by 5.2% in July, while domestic orders increased by 4.1%.

New orders from the Eurozone rose 2.2% in July, while orders from other countries slid 9.5%.

French consumer confidence index remained unchanged at 93 in August, missing expectation for a rise to 94.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,100.88 -93.22 -1.50 %

DAX 10,147.62 -170.22 -1.65 %

CAC 40 4,577.63 -76.16 -1.64 %