European stocks gained in early trade on Friday as Japan's government advocated a USD 116 billion stimulus package to move the world's third-biggest economy out of its recession. U.S. index futures and Asian shares were little changed. 

UK's benchmark index FTSE 100 rose 11.05 points or 0.17% to trade at 6,112.48. French benchmark index CAC 40 advanced 10.69 points or 0.22% to trade at 3,710.36. Germany's benchmark index DAX increased 15.69 points or 0.21% to trade at 7,726.48.

US stock-index futures trading lower Dow Jones index futures were down 4 points to 13,402, while S&P 500 index futures were down 0.4 points to 1,466.7. The Nasdaq composite index futures fell 1 points to 2,736 (03.09 ET).