European equity markets were set for a firmer open on Friday, with Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 futures both up about 0.2% in premarket trading. The move followed softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data, which reduced immediate concerns that the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates soon, and was reinforced by renewed buying in artificial intelligence-related stocks. Investors in Europe are now watching a run of macroeconomic releases including Eurozone GDP, employment and trade figures, as well as German wholesale prices and French inflation data. No major corporate earnings reports are scheduled in Europe on Friday.