12:12 PM EST, 11/25/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European stock markets closed mixed in Monday trading as the Stoxx Europe nudged 0.06% higher, Germany's DAX was up 0.43%, the FTSE in London was up 0.36%, France's CAC rose 0.03% and the Swiss Market Index closed 0.32% lower.

The annual total expenditure on social protection benefits in the EU increased 6.1% in 2023, according to early estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Social protection benefits expenditure as a percentage of GDP was highest in France, followed by Finland and Austria, while it was lowest in Ireland, Malta, and Estonia.

The European Council extended sanctions resulting from Turkey's unauthorized drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. The measures, which include asset freezes and travel bans, were initially imposed in 2019 and will now remain in effect until Nov. 30, 2025.

In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority fined Barclays 40 million pounds for the bank's failure to disclose arrangements with Qatari entities in 2008. The fine was announced after Barclays agreed to end its legal challenge to the regulator's case.

And in corporate news, Kingfisher led the decliners on the FTSE after the British home improvement company said increased taxes in the UK and France are expected to reduce its retail profit by about 45 million pounds in fiscal 2025 and 2026.

On the DAX, automobile stocks were among the biggest gainers, with BMW and Porsche advancing over 2%.