12:08 PM EDT, 08/29/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed higher in Thursday trading as The Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.74%, the Swiss Market Index gained 0.56%, France's CAC was up 0.84%, the FTSE in London increased 0.43%, and Germany's DAX closed 0.69% lower .

The Economic Sentiment Indicator rose slightly in the European Union in August to 96.9 from 96.5 in July, while it was up 0.6 points to 96.6 in the euro area, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. Meanwhile, the Employment Expectations Indicator increased 0.9 points to 99.6 in the EU in August from July and rose 1.3 points to 99.2 in the euro area.

Among the largest EU economies, the ESI improved 4.3 points for France, 1.3 points for Spain, and 0.9 points for the Netherlands, while the ESI deteriorated for Germany and Italy, declining 1.7 and 1.2 points respectively.

In Germany, the inflation rate is estimated at 1.9% in August, compared with the same month last year, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, is estimated at 2.8%.

The FSO also reported that nominal wages in Germany increased 5.4% in Q2, compared with the year-ago quarter, while real wages rose 3.1% on an annual basis.

In the UK, the Bank of England is expected to delay its entire package of bank capital reforms until at least January 2026 as it monitors international developments, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing people with knowledge of the situation. The Bank of England and the Bank Policy Institute did not immediately respond to requests for comment from MT Newswires.

In Spain, the flash estimate of the CPI was 2.2% in August, 0.6% lower than in July, according to Spain's National Statistics Institute.

And in corporate news, Nokia's (NOK) mobile networks assets have attracted preliminary interest from Samsung Electronics, among other potential suitors, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

"Nokia does not comment on market rumors or speculation," a company spokesperson told MT Newswires via email, while Samsung did not immediately reply to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

Dutch semiconductor company ASML's (ASML) ability to repair and maintain its chipmaking equipment in China could be limited by the Dutch government, Bloomberg reported Thursday. Certain ASML licenses to service and provide spare parts in China that are expiring at the end of 2024 are unlikely to be renewed by the Dutch government, the report said. ASML didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.