European stocks close:

European stocks climbed, completing their biggest weekly rally in three months, on speculation that the Federal Reserve will opt for further stimulus after a report showed U.S. employers hired fewer workers than estimated.

The release also showed that the nation’s unemployment rate unexpectedly slipped to 8.1 percent. Economists had predicted a jobless rate of 8.3 percent, according to the median projection in a survey. Unemployment has stayed above 8 percent for the last 43 months.

National benchmark indexes climbed in every western- European (SXXP) market except Denmark today. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 added 0.3 percent, while Germany’s DAX advanced 0.7 percent. France’s CAC 40 rose 0.3 percent.

A gauge of banking shares advanced 2.1 percent to its highest level in five months. Deutsche Bank and Barclays surged 5.3 percent to 31.36 euros and 6.9 percent to 206.4 pence, respectively.

Santander SA, Spain’s biggest lender, climbed 1.7 percent to 6.08 euros, while BNP Paribas SA, France’s largest bank, added 1.7 percent to 37.78 euros. Credit Agricole SA and Societe Generale SA jumped 6.5 percent to 5.34 euros and 6.8 percent to 24.49 euros, respectively.