European stocks ended marginally higher after a volatile session on Thursday, as energy shares trimmed losses on the back of a rebound in oil prices. The choppy session came as traders kept a close eye on oil prices, which entered bear-market territory earlier this week on concerns of rising production on the U.S., Nigeria and Libya. On Thursday, crude oil CLQ7, +0.40% jumped 1.6% to $43.19 a barrel, but remained volatile.

U.S. stocks reversed direction to close mostly lower Thursday as weak financials and consumer staples shares eclipsed a rally in the health-care and biotechnology sectors. Health-care stocks were among the biggest gainers, adding 1.4%, as lawmakers released a "discussion draft" of the health-care bill that aims to cut Medicaid and eliminate penalties for people who don't buy insurance, among other changes.

Increased regulatory scrutiny over the borrowings of China's most prolific overseas deal makers weighed on mainland markets Friday, as trading elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region was lackluster.