Investors are hopeful that U.S.-China trade talks this weekend will cool a trade war between the world's two largest economies and dispel some of the uncertainty clouding financial markets, though few expect a major breakthrough just yet.

US equity investors will be watching closely as trade talks kick off between the Trump administration and China, with trillions of dollars hanging in the balance for American companies.

European stocks were rising Friday, with investors hopeful that a looming trade summit between China and the U.S. can ease global trade tensions. The continent's flagship Stoxx 600 climbed 0.5% in morning trading.