11:58 AM EDT, 10/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed mostly higher on Friday as the Stoxx Europe 600 gained 0.19%, the Swiss Market Index was up 0.18%, France's CAC rose 0.39%, Germany's increased 0.38%, while the FTSE in London declined 0.32%.

Seasonally adjusted production in construction increased 0.1% in the euro area and 0.4% in the European Union in August compared with July, according to preliminary estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. Compared with a year earlier, production in construction declined 2.5% in the euro area and 2.4% in the EU.

In the UK, retail sales volume rose an estimated 0.3% in September, following a 1.0% increase in August, according to the Office for National Statistics. On a quarterly basis sales volume rose 1.9% in Q3.

In France, the total number of businesses launched in September decreased 5% from the previous month after declining 1% in August, according to the Institute for Statistics and Economic studies, which said it was the fourth straight month of declines.

And in corporate news, Novo Nordisk's pending acquisition of Catalent is facing a roadblock after US consumer groups and two large labor unions urged regulators to block the deal, citing competition concerns. Novo Nordisk and Catalent did not immediately respond to MTNewswires' request for comment.

The Danish pharmaceutical company also said Friday that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has adopted a positive opinion and recommended approval of Alhemo to treat adults with hemophilia, based on data from a phase 3 study.

Finnish telecommunications company Nokia said Friday that former Finnish ambassador to the US Mikko Hautala has been appointed chief geopolitical and government relations officer, effective Nov. 1, and Louise Fisk has been promoted to chief communications officer, effective immediately. Shares of Nokia closed more than 8% higher in Helsinki.

And BioNTech said Friday that its partner OncoC4 has been notified that the US Food and Drug Administration has placed their phase 3 trial of BNT316/ONC-392 to treat lung cancer on a partial clinical hold. Shares of the German biotech firm dropped more than 4% in Frankfurt.