12:21 PM EDT, 09/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets were little changed in Wednesday trading as the Stoxx Europe 600 edged 0.05% lower, Germany's DAX nudged 0.08% higher, the FTSE 100 was up 0.14%, France's CAC was down 0.40%, and the Swiss Market Index declined 0.16%.

The annual inflation rate in the euro area was 2.0% in August, unchanged from July, and just below analyst expectations of 2.1%, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. A year earlier, the rate was 2.2%. In the EU, annual inflation was 2.4% in August, which was unchanged from July and a year earlier.

The lowest annual rates were in Cyprus (0.0%), France (0.8%), and Italy (1.6%), while the highest rates were in Romania (8.5%), Estonia (6.2%), and Croatia (4.6%). Compared with July, annual inflation rose in 14 member countries, fell in nine, and was unchanged in four.

In the UK, the consumer prices index rose 3.8% in August, according to the Office for National Statistics, which is unchanged from July and met analyst expectations, according to Bloomberg. On a monthly basis, CPI rose 0.3% in August, matching the rate from August 2024.

And in corporate news, GSK said Wednesday it plans to invest $30 billion in the US over the next five years to expand research and development and strengthen its supply chain infrastructure.

The company said its plan includes a $1.2 billion investment in advanced biopharma manufacturing and lab facilities, as well as expanding AI and digital technologies across its US operations.

Shares of the British pharmaceutical company gained 0.7% on the FTSE 100 in London.

Unilever's Ben & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield said Wednesday that he has resigned from the ice cream maker, amid a dispute with its UK-based parent company over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Shares of the consumer goods giant were up 0.4% in London.

French oil and gas company TotalEnergies said Wednesday it has signed four production-sharing contracts for exploration blocks offshore Liberia. The contracts were awarded following a licensing negotiation round last year organized by the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Agency.

Shares of TotalEnergies dropped 1.3% in Paris.