Economic calendar: Stats from Canada and ECB Lagarde speech

• European markets seen opening mostly higher
• Employment figures from Canada
• ECB President Lagarde speech

European stock index futures are trading higher ahead of cash session launch. Friday looks calm in terms of data. The major reading for today - UK GDP report for Q2 - has been already released and it came below analysts' estimates (0.8% MoM vs 1.5 MoM expected). Reaction on GBP market was minor. Rest of the day seems rather quiet with US wholesale inventories being the only noteworthy reading scheduled for release. Meanwhile CAD traders will focus on data from the Canadian labour market.

Following the ECB meeting minutes on Thursday, ECB President Lagarde is scheduled to speak. Any comments regarding monetary policy or the economy may and may trigger some volatility on the market. Today and Saturday the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meet in Venice for the first time since February 2020. Discussions will be held on many topics including the international economy, global health, efforts towards economic recovery and promotion of more sustainable growth.

1:30 pm BST - Canada, Employment Change. Expected: 172.5K. Previous: -68.0K

1:30 pm BST - Canada, Unemployment Rate. Expected: 7.8%. Previous: 8.2%

3:00 pm BST - USA, Final Wholesale Inventories m/m.  Expected: 1.1%. Previous: 1.1%

Central bankers' speeches:

11:00 am BST  - ECB President Lagarde

11:00 am BST  - BOE Gov Bailey