Economic calendar: Canadian jobs report in focus

• European stock markets set to open higher

• Canadian labor market report for March to be released at 1:30 pm BST

• First round of French presidential elections on Sunday

Futures markets point to a higher opening of the European cash session today. DAX futures currently trade around 200 points above yesterday's cash close. There are no major releases scheduled for the European morning today. CAD traders will be offered a Canadian jobs report in the early afternoon with the unemployment rate expected to drop to 5.3%. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will head to Kyiv today. Visit is likely to be mostly symbolic.

A thing to note ahead of the weekend is that the first round of French presidential elections will be held on Sunday. Current President Macron and far-right  candidate Le Pen are seen as favorites with the difference between them narrowing in recent polls. Nevertheless, it is highly unlikely that the next President will be chosen in the first round. As Macro and Le Pen are almost certain to make it to the second round on April 24, no major market reaction on CAC40 (FRA40) is expected at the beginning of trading on Monday.

8:00 am BST - Spain, industrial production for February. Expected: 1.6% YoY. Previous: 1.7% YoY

9:00 am BST - Italy, retail sales for February. Expected: 0.5% MoM. Previous: -0.5% MoM

1:30 pm BST - Canada, labor market report for March

• Employment change. Expected: 80k. Previous: 336.6k

• Unemployment rate. Expected: 5.3%. Previous: 5.5%

3:00 pm BST - US, wholesales inventories for February. Expected: 2.1% MoM. Previous: 0.8% MoM