11:59 AM EDT, 07/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed mixed in Thursday trading as The Stoxx Europe 600 gained 0.24%, Germany's DAX increased 0.27%, and the FTSE 100 rose 0.85%, while France's CAC and the Swiss Market Index were down 0.41% and 0.26% respectively.

The European Central Bank's Governing Council said Thursday that it is maintaining its three key interest rates - the deposit facility, the main refinancing operations, and the marginal lending facility - at 2.00%, 2.15% and 2.40% respectively.

"Domestic price pressures have continued to ease, with wages growing more slowly," the ECB said in a statement. "Partly reflecting the Governing Council's past interest rate cuts, the economy has so far proven resilient overall in a challenging global environment. At the same time, the environment remains exceptionally uncertain, especially because of trade disputes."

The seasonally-adjusted HCOB Flash Eurozone Composite PMI Output Index, based on approximately 85% of usual survey responses and compiled by S&P Global, rose to 51.0 in July from 50.6 in June. It was the seventh straight monthly increase in business activity in the euro area.

"The eurozone economy appears to be gradually regaining momentum," Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, said in a statement. "The recession in the manufacturing sector is coming to an end, and growth in the services sector accelerated slightly in July."

In corporate news, Rio Tinto is exploring a potential sale of its titanium unit due to weak prices and low returns, Reuters reported Thursday, citing sources close to the matter.

The British-Australian mining company is evaluating whether the titanium business still fits within its portfolio as China has expanded production and now controls more than half of the global titanium market, Reuters said citing data from the US Geological Survey.

Shares of Rio Tinto edged 0.04% higher on the FTSE 100.

Stellantis is planning to stop diesel engine production at its Douvrin plant in November, Reuters reported Thursday, citing a company spokesperson. The carmaker is also planning to stop all combustion engine production at the French plant in the coming months, the report said, citing unnamed sources.

Stellantis didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

Shares of the European automaker fell 4% in Paris trading.

Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis has agreed to pay up to $1 billion to Matchpoint Therapeutics to develop and commercialize treatments targeting inflammatory diseases, the latter said Thursday. Under the agreement, Matchpoint will receive up to $60 million in upfront payment and research funding, with up to $1 billion in total potential payments, including option exercise fee, development, and commercial milestones, the company said.

Shares of Novartis gained 0.44% in Zurich.

AstraZeneca said Thursday a phase 3 trial of gefurulimab in adults with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis met primary and all secondary endpoints. The British pharmaceutical company said gefurulimab was well-tolerated and its safety profile was consistent with previous trials.

Shares of AstraZeneca rose more than 2% in London trading.