The European stock markets were trending higher in Wednesday trading as investors monitor President Trump's visit to China, with some expecting the summit could lead to an easing of tech export restrictions.
The Stoxx Europe was rising 0.7%, Germany's DAX was gaining 0.6%, the UK's FTSE 100 was up 0.4%, France's CAC was increasing 0.3%, and the Swiss Market Index was advancing 0.7%.
And in corporate news, Novo Nordisk presented new analyses from its phase 3 OASIS 4 trial showing that adults treated with Wegovy pill achieved substantial weight loss and improved physical function, the drugmaker said Wednesday.
Nearly 29% of adults taking oral semaglutide 25 mg were early responders, achieving average weight loss of 13.2% at 16 weeks and 21.6% by week 64, while non-early responders still recorded an average weight loss of 11.5% by the end of the trial, the company said.
Shares of the Danish pharmaceutical company were up 0.9% in Copenhagen.
Stellantis and other European carmakers are in talks with BYD over potential agreements involving underused European manufacturing plants, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing a senior BYD executive.
BYD would prefer to operate any acquired facilities independently rather than through joint ventures, the report said.
In a statement emailed to, a Stellantis spokesperson referred as part of its normal course of business, Stellantis engages in discussions with a range of industry players around the world on various topics, always with the ultimate aim of providing customers with the best mobility choices. The company does not comment on speculation.
Shares of Stellantis were rising 4% in Paris.
Equinor plans to hold talks with major European customers on whether they would support ambitious and expensive new projects to recover oil and gas supplies, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Equinor will confer with officials from Germany, the UK, Belgium, Poland, and the Netherlands, who are due in Oslo on May 18 for an event hosted by gas pipeline operator Gassco, the report said.
Equinor did not immediately reply to' request for comment.
Shares of the Norwegian petroleum refiner were little changed in Oslo.
Astrazeneca signed a three-year licensing agreement with Owkin to develop biopharma AI agents using Owkin's K Pro platform for drug development and decision-making, Owkin said Wednesday.
Under the agreement, Owkin said it will develop and deploy AI agents within AstraZeneca's IT systems and workflows to support competitive intelligence and data-driven decision making across the biopharma value chain.
Shares of the British pharmaceutical company were off 0.6% in London.
BP has halted contract discussions with the US steelworkers' union after the lockout of over 800 employees at its Whiting, Indiana, facility, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing a statement from the union.
Shares of BP were down 0.4% in London.