watched U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, which may provide more evidence of the world's biggest economy strengthening, according to Reuters. At 0809 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.5 percent at 1,018.14 points. U.S. nonfarm payrolls, due at 1330 GMT, may have risen by 150,000 in December, according to a survey. Hopes of an even stronger number were driven by data on Thursday, showing more than twice the expected number of private sector jobs were added in December while initial jobless claims dropped 15,000 in the latest week.
