12:22 PM EDT, 04/28/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European stock markets closed higher Monday as the Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.5%, Germany's DAX 40 increased 0.06%, the FTSE 100 edged up 0.02%, France's CAC 40 gained 0.5% and the Swiss Market Index advanced 0.72%.

Despite growth in euro area economic activity in Q1, the European economy faces increasing risk from trade turmoil, European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos said. "Sharp adjustments in financial markets could become disorderly."

In corporate news, Erste Group Bank is in discussions to acquire a 49% stake in Banco Santander's Santander Bank Polska.

Novo Holdings, the $160 billion fund behind Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, will slow its investment activities until there is more clarity on economic growth prospects, Bloomberg reported. Novo Holdings' plans to exit "some assets" will most likely be postponed until later this year or next year, the report said.

British consumer goods giant Unilever said it didn't seek the ouster of former Ben & Jerry's Chief Executive Officer Dave Stever and asked for the dismissal of the Ben & Jerry's lawsuit seeking to stop its alleged efforts to restructure its board and end its activism, Reuters reported Friday.