European stock markets saw modest gains in early Friday trading, as investors remained cautious due to the fragile ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Shortly after the opening bell, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose by 0.2%, with most sectors trading in positive territory. The UK's FTSE 100, France's CAC 40, and Germany's DAX all recorded slight increases following losses in the previous session.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel agreed to engage in talks with Lebanon "as soon as possible." Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed that Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon violated the terms of the US-Iran ceasefire.

The developments contributed to overnight gains in Asian markets. South Korea's KOSPI index advanced by 1.75%, while the small and mid-cap KOSDAQ index increased by 1.65%. Japan's Nikkei 225 index climbed 1.88%, although the TOPIX index remained largely unchanged. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae announced on Friday that the country plans to release a 20-day supply of oil reserves starting in May. As of April 6, Japan's oil reserves were sufficient to last approximately 230 days.

European markets experienced volatility on Thursday, ultimately closing lower as signs of strain in the delicate US-Iran ceasefire emerged. Investors are also anticipated to closely monitor German monthly inflation data due later on Friday, which may offer insights into the impact of the Iran conflict on consumer prices.