10 things you need to know before European markets open
Chinese bank lending missed expectations. Chinese new bank lending disappointed to the downside in December, increasing by 597.8 billion yuan. The figure was below expectations for an increase of 700 billion yuan, and short of the 697.3 billion yuan level of a year earlier.
Italy is blocking a plan to halt immigrants. Italy is blocking a European Union plan to provide Turkey with €3 billion in aid in exchange for a commitment to stem the flow of migrants into Europe.
France is squeezing its deficit. The France government said it managed to reduce the budget deficit by more than forecast in 2015, just as the EU warned it was taking a harder line on the French shortfall.
Uber's China unit is worth more than $8 billion. Chief executive Travis Kalanick said on Friday the ride-hailing firm's China unit was valued at more than $8 billion after its latest fundraising round, over $1 billion more than before the effort.