Euro Stocks Set to Open Higher Despite French Fiscal Worries

European stock markets were poised to open higher on Friday as a decline in global bond yields boosted sentiment. However, growing fiscal concerns in France pushed its 10-year government bond yield to its highest level since 2002.

The Japanese firm Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management sold all of its French government bonds due to concerns over the country's fiscal outlook. It has reallocated funds to German bunds and short-term Japanese government bonds instead.

Investors are also monitoring volatility in oil markets, which may be influenced by the US consideration of deploying an additional aircraft carrier and 10,000 troops to the Middle East. This move could disrupt regional energy supplies and lead to renewed inflation pressures.