12:40 PM EDT, 10/10/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed lower in Friday trading as The Stoxx Europe 600 declined 1.3%, Germany's DAX lost 1.5%, the FTSE 100 dropped 0.9%, France's CAC fell 1.5%, and the Swiss Market Index was down 1%.

Banque de France, France's central bank, said the country's GDP was on track to expand 0.3% in Q3 from the previous quarter, when it also grew 0.3%, according to Reuters. The forecast was based on a survey of business leaders, who the bank said showed concern over "the national political climate and trade tensions," Reuters reported.

In Switzerland, the consumer sentiment index stood at -37 points in September, compared with -40 the previous month and -34 a year earlier, according to the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. It said the past financial situation, financial outlook, and moment to make major purchases were higher compared with September 2024. Analysts expected a reading of -38, according to Bloomberg.

In corporate news, Stellantis' ongoing overhaul is raising worries among French workers that local operations could be sidelined under Chief Executive Officer Antonio Filosa's push to revive the carmaker, Bloomberg reported Friday.

Filosa, who became CEO in June, is reviewing operations of the multinational automotive group and has appointed several executives whom he worked with previously in South America for executive roles in Europe, the report said. Stellantis has temporarily idled some European plants amid weak demand, while Filosa plans about $10 billion in US investments, the report said.

Stellantis declined to comment when contacted by MT Newswires.

Shares of the automaker dropped 6.4% in Paris.

BHP Group's iron ore cargoes were put up for sale in China and one shipment has been sold to a local trader, easing concerns of a potential Chinese ban on BHP's exports, Reuters reported Friday, citing an offer sheet. The offer sheet was issued Thursday by the Shanghai branch of China Mineral Resources Group for 1.14 million tons of BHP's iron ore shipments, the report said. The Australian miner also sold a 170,000-metric-ton cargo to a Chinese trader on the same day, Reuters said, citing two traders with direct knowledge of the matter.

BHP declined to comment on commercial negotiations, while CMRG did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment on the matter.

Shares of the British mining giant was off 0.7% in London.

Shell and Trinidad and Tobago got an authorization from the US government for the development of an offshore gas field in Venezuela close to the maritime border, Reuters reported Thursday, citing Trinidad's attorney general. The approval is structured in three stages, with the first one enabling Shell and Trinidad to negotiate the project with Venezuela and PDVSA through April, though making mandatory the inclusion of US companies in the development, the news agency reported.

Shell didn't immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.

Shares of Shell were 2.9% lower on the FTSE 100 in London.

Allianz, Coface, and American International, are among insurers preparing to face potential claims relating to the bankruptcy of First Brands Group, the Financial Times reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The insurers had policies that shielded trading partners or investors from losses through their trade credit businesses, leaving them exposed to First Brands' supply chain, the report said.

Allianz told MT Newswires that it cannot comment on specific cases. The insurer noted, however, that "when a company fails, or cannot meet its financial obligations, that affects its suppliers, and we act to prevent any domino effect."

Coface, and AIG did not immediately respond to requests for comment from MT Newswires.

Shares of Allianz lost 0.4% on the DAX, while Coface shares were off 0.7% in Paris.

BP has won a case it pursued against Venture Global related to LNG sales from the Calcasieu Project in Louisiana, according to a regulatory filing Thursday. The International Chamber of Commerce's International Court of Arbitration informed the company on Wednesday that a partial final award has been issued in favor of BP, which is seeking damages of more than $1 billion, as well as interest, costs and attorneys' fees, Venture Global said in the regulatory filing.

Shares of the British oil and gas company fell 2.8% in London.