European stocks ended a bumpy session mostly higher on Friday as investors weighed a mixed U.S. jobs report and an airstrike against Syria.

U.S. stocks closed fractionally lower Friday, posting weekly losses after staggering through a choppy session as investors digested weaker-than-expected March jobs data and President Donald Trump's late Thursday airstrike against Syria.

Stocks in Japan were higher to start the week, aided by a weakening yen, while markets in Australia were higher due to strength in commodities and banks. But Chinese equities were under pressure as the country's top insurance regulator faces a graft probe, while South Korean stocks lagged due to geopolitical concerns.