The European stock markets closed higher in Friday trading as The Stoxx Europe rose 0.5%, Germany's DAX gained 0.6%, the FTSE 100 increased 0.6%, France's CAC grew 0.4%, and the Swiss Market Index advanced 0.6%.
The seasonally adjusted S&P Global Flash Eurozone Composite PMI Output Index rose to 52.1 in August from 52.0 in July, marking the second straight monthly expansion in the private sector. The rate was the highest since last November.
"A sustained solid rise in business activity in August sets the eurozone up for a robust increase in third quarter GDP of around 0.3%," S&P Global Market Intelligence Chief Business Economist Chris Williamson said in a statement. "The manufacturing sector is again the star performer, enjoying its strongest growth for four-and-a-half years, with the services economy providing a supporting role, notching up another month of decent growth after the malaise seen in the second quarter."
In corporate news, TotalEnergies and CMA CGM received European Commission approval to create a joint venture focused on liquefied natural gas bunkering logistics services, the Commission said Friday.
The transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the joint venture's negligible activities in the European Economic Area and the companies' limited combined market positions, the Commission said.
The deal was reviewed under the EU's simplified merger procedure, it added.
Shares of the French oil and gas company fell 1.1% in Paris.
BHP and Vale's agreement regarding compensation for the Mariana dam collapse in 2015 has been joined by 19 new cities, Reuters reported late Thursday, citing a Brazilian court.
This means that the deal, which was signed and ratified in October 2024, now has the support of 45 of the 49 municipalities eligible to receive funds, the report said.
The Brazilian court said it remains available to accept any future consent from the four remaining cities that have yet to join the agreement, the report added.
Vale and BHP did not immediately respond to' request for comment.
Shares of BHP gained 2.3% in London.
ADNOC Distribution has agreed to sell a minority stake in Shell Downstream South Africa to South Africa's Reatile Group after it acquires the company, the state-backed United Arab Emirates energy company said in a regulatory filing Thursday.
Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.
The deal with Reatile, an investment holding company focused on energy, affirmed ADNOC's commitment to South Africa's black economic empowerment policies and brings a measure of local participation in the acquisition.
Shares of Shell fell 0.9% in London.
Equinor has exercised its one-year option for the Havila Troll vessel, extending the charter through November 2027, Havila Shipping said Friday.
Equinor has two additional one-year options remaining.
Shares of the Norwegian petroleum refiner declined 0.7% in Oslo.