European stock indices fell

European stocks were little changed, with the benchmark gauge heading for a weekly gain, as investors awaited a report on U.S. payrolls to gauge the outlook for Federal Reserve stimulus. U.S. index futures and Asian shares were also little changed.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slid less than 0.1 percent to 304.36 at 9:37 a.m. in London. The gauge has rallied 2.4 percent so far this week, snapping two weeks of losses, as the European Central Bank affirmed its accommodative monetary policy and Chinese manufacturing in August surpassed estimates. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures added less than 0.1 percent today, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index slipped less than 0.1 percent.

A U.S. Labor Department report at 8:30 a.m. in Washington may show employers increased payrolls at a faster pace in August. Payrolls climbed by 180,000 last month, compared with 162,000 in July, economists forecast.

ProSiebenSat.1 slid 1.3 percent to 30.71 euros after TMG said late yesterday sold its entire stake of 13.1 million shares, or about 6 percent, in the company to institutions. KKR & Co. and Permira Advisers LLP sold 25 million shares of ProSiebenSat.1 earlier this week.

Voestalpine AG slid 1.7 percent to 33.92 euros. Bank of America Corp.’s Merrill Lynch unit downgraded Austria’s biggest steelmaker to neutral from buy, citing a recent rally that has led to limited potential for a price increase. The stock gained 37 percent in the four months through August.

Sonova advanced 3.3 percent to 109.70 Swiss francs, its highest price since April 16. UBS raised its rating on the shares to buy from neutral, citing growth prospects in its hearing-implants business.

FTSE 100 6,523.43 -9.01 -0.14%

CAC 40 4,002.66 -4.14 -0.10%

DAX 8,214.46 -20.52 -0.25%