European Stock-Index Futures Advance, BHP, Rio Tinto May Move

European stock-index futures climbed, indicating the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index will extend a second weekly advance. Asian shares rose, while U.S. futures were little changed.

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Rio Tinto Group may lead gains by commodity producers as the mining companies rallied in Sydney. Ericsson AB may be active amid a report that Sony Corp. is getting closer to an agreement to buy the Swedish company’s stake in their mobile-phone venture. Nokia Oyj (NOK1V) may move after Samsung Electronics Co. reported profit that beat analysts’ estimates.

Futures on the Euro Stoxx 50 Index expiring in December rose 0.2 percent to 2,241 at 7:07 a.m. in London, while FTSE 100 Index futures expiring the same month gained 0.4 percent. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index jumped 2 percent, while Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures slid 0.2 percent.

“The bulls are back in the driving seat -- at least for now,” said Cameron Peacock, a market analyst at IG Markets in Melbourne. “The focus should probably lie more with the improved economic data as opposed to the central bank interventions, so it’s going to make the non-farm payrolls which are due for release later today even more critical and with markets sporting some healthy gains over recent days, any disappointment could easily have traders scrambling to book profits.”

The Stoxx 600 has rallied 1.8 percent this week amid speculation policy makers will reach agreement to shield banks from the crisis and as the Bank of England expanded its bond- purchase program.

To contact the reporter on this story: Julie Cruz in Frankfurt at jcruz6@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew Rummer at arummer@bloomberg.net