Paris - European stocks rose in early trade on Friday, halting a sharp two-day retreat as a renewed fall in the euro currency helped boost the shares of exporting companies.
At 10:04, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.7% at 1 584.88 points, after losing nearly 2% in two sessions.
The euro fell back on Friday, trading at $1.0811, well below Thursday's intraday high of $1.10525. European shares have strongly rallied in the past six months as investors bet a sharp drop in the euro currency will boost the region's economy and lift corporate results.