North American markets are looking to open higher Friday as employment reports in both Canada and the United States showed continued resiliency.

The U.S. unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 5.7% in Janurary, as payrolls jumped by 143,000 jobs. Employment in retail trade and construction increased after seasonal adjustment, but most other major industries were little changed.

Canadian employment was unchanged in January following a strong 2002. Statistics Canada said the unemployment rate edged down 0.1 percentage points in January to 7.4%, the result of a slight decline in the number of people looking for work.

European stocks declined Friday morning. London’s FTSE 100 index was down 18.4 points at 3,578.6, with traders saying the market took a downbeat view of a surprise interest-rate cut by the Bank of England Thursday.

Frankfurt’s DAX index shed 32.6 points to 2,616.4, while Paris’s CAC 40 index declined 22.15 points to 2,814.03.

Overnight in Asia, Japan’s benchmark 225-issue Nikkei stock average dropped 36.03 points to 8,448.16. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng rose 24.80 points to 9,150.95.

Earnings reports are due Friday from Loblaws Cos., Algoma Steel and Dofasco Inc.