European stocks open lower; Greenland remains in focus

LONDON - European stocks opened lower on Friday as investors digest ongoing geopolitical tensions. The pan-European Stoxx 600 edged lower at the opening bell on Friday, with most major bourses and sectors in negative territory. On Thursday, the benchmark was lifted by semiconductor stocks, with Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML popping as much as 7% amid positive results from TSMC . It closed 6% higher. ASM International advanced 11.2%, and BE Semiconductor gained 7.3% Thursday. Just a few days after a U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia judge gave Orsted the go-ahead to resume work on its nearly-finished Revolution Wind project, Equinor has been cleared by the same district to resume work on its Empire Wind project. The Trump administration halted five major offshore wind developments at the end of last year. European troops arrived in Greenland late Thursday, as Trump pushes for the acquisition or annexation of the world's largest island. A White House meeting over the Danish territory's future on Wednesday ended without a diplomatic breakthrough, although the U.S., Denmark and Greenland have agreed to keep talking. Energy markets have been volatile recently as investors weigh a violent crackdown on civil unrest in oil-rich Iran and Washington's response, which includes possible tariffs on Iran's trading partners . March futures for the global benchmark Brent crude oil were last seen 3.44% lower, trading at $63.49 per barrel. Silver and gold have been on a tear as investors seek safer bets amid concerns of Federal Reserve Independence. Futures for March and February tied to the metals, however, were last seen 1.91% and 0.28% down, respectively. Asian chip stocks climbed Friday , lifting several regional markets even as broader Asia-Pacific trade remained mixed. Stateside, stock futures rose after a rally in banks and tech names boosted the major averages. The are no major data releases today. - CNBC's Chloe Taylor and Sam Meredith contributed to this report.

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