12:07 PM EST, 11/20/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed higher in Thursday trading as the Stoxx Europe gained 0.50%, Germany's DAX rose 0.63%, the FTSE 100 increased 0.21%, France's CAC advanced 0.34%, and the Swiss Market Index edged up 0.1%.

In Germany, producer prices for industrial products declined 1.8% in October, compared with a year earlier, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), which said it was the eighth straight annual decline. Destatis attributed the decline to lower energy prices and intermediate goods, to a lesser extent. Meanwhile, it said capital goods and consumer goods were more expensive than a year earlier.

The seasonally adjusted production in construction decreased 0.5% in the euro area and was unchanged in the European Union in September, compared with August, according to preliminary estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. Compared with a year earlier, production in construction declined 0.3% the euro area and rose 0.5% in the EU.

And in corporate news, BHP is facing an expanded product ban in China after a state-owned iron ore buyer ordered steel mills and traders to stop buying Jinbao fines, a low-grade iron ore product, Reuters reported Thursday, citing sources. China Mineral Resources Group told buyers this week to halt new cargoes of Jinbao fines, adding to an existing ban on another BHP product.

BHP did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.

Shares of the British mining company declined 0.4% in London.

BP has closed the 400-mile Olympic Pipeline in Washington following a recent leak, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing the company.

The British oil giant restored one of the two pipelines Monday that was closed to ascertain the source of some product discharge, though it was again shut down, according to the report. Crews have started excavation of the pipelines so that inspection could proceed, Reuters reported, citing BP, which didn't provide a timeline for the repairs.

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

Shares of BP rose 1.2% on the FTSE 100 in London.

STMicroelectronics and French solar power producer TSE said Thursday they signed a 15-year power purchase agreement for TSE to supply renewable electricity to STMicroelectronics' sites in the European country.

The companies said the contract will start in 2027 and is estimated to have an overall volume of about 780 gigawatt-hours, to be supplied from three TSE solar parks.

Novartis said Thursday it has rolled forward its mid-term sales outlook to 2025-2030 with a sales compound annual growth rate of more than 5% to 6%. The company has also upgraded outlook for its brands, including Kisqali and Scemblix.

Shares of the Swiss pharmaceutical company dropped 2% in Zurich.