European shares were set for their fifth straight week of gains on Friday, led by defensive and retail stocks, but gains were limited as investors remained cautious about a wider economic slowdown and progress in U.S.-China trade talks.

A 1.08% increase in the retail sector helped lift the pan-European STOXX 600 index by 0.2%. Investors also bought into the so-called defensive sectors such as healthcare, utilities, real-estate and food and beverage.

Global equity markets were spooked at the start of the week by attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities that sent oil prices soaring and heightened geopolitical concerns in the Middle East.

But monetary loosening by central banks around the world calmed investor nerves later in the week.

Source : Reuters