​Global shares higher pending jobs report, Fed decision

TOKYO - Global shares rose Friday as investors awaited a U.S. jobs report later in the day and action from the U.S. Federal Reserve later in the month. A recovery in oil prices also lifted sentiment.

France's CAC 40 added 0.3 percent in early trading to 4,478.17, while Germany's DAX added 0.4 percent to 10,249.89. Britain's FTSE 100 gained 1.0 percent to 6,248.82.

U.S. shares looked set for a quiet open, with both Dow and S&P futures up less than 0.1 percent.

Investors are watching for clues on whether the Federal Reserve will raise its key interest rate at the central bank's next meeting of policymakers later this month. Many also are awaiting the U.S. Labor Department's release of its latest monthly jobs report later Friday.

Shares have been hurt recently by the OPEC meeting in Vienna, which ended without any consensus on regulating supplies. That sent crude oil prices lower initially, but they later reversed course.

"On the OPEC front, despite all the headlines, there is no production freeze and no subsequent talk of one," said Stephen Innes, senior trader at APAC OANDA.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.5 percent to 16,642.23. South Korea's Kospi inched up 0.04 percent to 1,985.84. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.4 percent to 20,947.24, while the Shanghai Composite gained 0.5 percent to 2,938.68. The S&P/ASX 200 of Australia jumped 0.8 percent to 5,318.90.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil gained 3 cents to $49.20 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It rose 16 cents on Thursday to $49.17 a barrel. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, added 6 cents to $50.10 a barrel in London.

The dollar inched down 108.86 yen from 108.95 yen. The euro fell slightly to $1.1148 from $1.1210.