12:24 PM EDT, 10/04/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed mixed in Friday trading as The Stoxx Europe 600 gained 0.45%, Germany's DAX was up 0.55% France's CAC rose 0.85%, the FTSE in London was off 0.02%, and the Swiss Market Index was down 0.13%.

The European Commission said Friday that the EU voted in favor of imposing tariffs on imports of battery electric vehicles from China. The Commission also said the EU will continue to work with China to find an alternative solution "that would have to be fully WTO-compatible, adequate in addressing the injurious subsidization established by the Commission's investigation, monitorable and enforceable."

Meanwhile, the number of European sectors in expansion rose to 11 out of 20 in September, up from eight in August, according to S&P Global Europe Sector PMI data. S&P said it was the most sectors reported in expansion since May.

The HCOB Eurozone Construction PMI Total Activity Index, which measures monthly changes in industry activity, rose to 42.9 in September from 41.4 in August, but remained in contraction territory for the 29th straight month. "The Eurozone's construction sector shows no signs of easing," Tariq Kamal Chaudhry, an economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, said in a statement.

In Italy, GDP rose 0.2% in Q2 compared with the previous quarter, and grew 0.6% from the year-earlier quarter, according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics.

And in corporate news, British oil and gas company Shell is facing a lawsuit filed by Russia's Prosecutor General against several of its subsidiaries, Reuters reported Friday, citing court documents. The lawsuit, filed in Moscow's Arbitration Court, targets eight of the company's units. Shell declined to comment when contacted by MT Newswires.

Meta Platforms' Facebook was ordered by a European court Thursday to limit the use of users' sexuality data for advertising. Meta said in an email to MT Newswires that it was studying the court's judgement.

Irish airline Ryanair's processing of personal data as part of its Customer Verification Processes for bookings made via third-party websites or online travel agents is being scrutinized by Ireland's Data Protection Commission, the DPC said Friday. Ryanair told MT Newswires that customers booking through "these unauthorized" online travel agencies "are required to complete a simple verification process (either biometric or a digital verification form) both of which fully comply with GDPR. This verification ensures that these passengers make the necessary security declarations and receive directly all safety and regulatory protocols required when travelling, as legally required."

And bank stocks rallied on the European bourses in Friday trading as NatWest and Standard Chartered rose 3.9% and 3.8% respectively on the FTSE, followed by Barclays and Lloyds Banking, which increased 3.2% and 2.4% respectively. Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank were up 2.7% and 1.8% respectively in Frankfurt, while Societe Generale and BNP Paribas gained 2.7% and 1.3% respectively in Paris.