European shares turned negative in afternoon trade on Friday after data showed U.S. employers cut a deeper-than-expected 190,000 jobs in October, driving the unemployment rate to 10.2 percent, the highest in 26-1/2 years.

By 1336 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top shares was down 0.7 percent at 983.86 points, having earlier been up as much as 995.78 points.

Energy stocks took the most points off the index. BG Group (BG.L), BP (BP.L), Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) and Total (TOTF.PA) were down 1.1 to 2.1 percent.

Unemployment U.S. Jobs