12:17 PM EDT, 07/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European stock markets closed mixed in Wednesday trading as the Stoxx Europe 600 fell 0.43%, the Swiss Market Index rose 0.6%, France's CAC eased 0.1%, the FTSE in London gained 0.32%, and Germany's DAX fell 0.4%.

The euro area annual inflation rate was 2.5% in June, down from 2.6% in May and 5.5% a year earlier, while EU annual inflation was 2.6%, down from 2.7% in May and 6.4% in June 2023, according to Eurostat.

In the UK, the consumer price index rose 2% in the 12 months to June, unchanged from May, according to the Office for National Statistics. On a monthly basis, the gauge rose 0.1% in June, the same as a year earlier.

UK producer input prices declined 0.4% in the year to June, compared with a revised drop of 0.7% in the year to May. Producer output prices rose 1.4% in the year to June, compared with a 1.7% gain in the year to May.

In corporate news, Dutch semiconductor company ASML may face more trade restrictions by the US government if it continues providing China with access to advanced semiconductor technology, Bloomberg reported. ASML shares fell 11% in Amsterdam.

ASML reported Q2 earnings of 4.01 euros ($4.38) per diluted share, down from 4.93 euros a year earlier, while analysts polled by Capital IQ expected 3.67 euros. Net sales fell to 6.24 billion euros from 6.9 billion euros. Analysts expected 6.07 billion euros.

French eyewear maker EssilorLuxottica agreed to acquire the Supreme brand from apparel company VF for $1.5 billion in cash. EssilorLuxottica shares fell 4.5% in Paris.

TotalEnergies agreed to sell its 10% stake in Nigerian oil and gas assets to Chappal Energies for $860 million. TotalEnergies shares rose 0.9% in Paris.

UK-based HSBC appointed Georges Elhedery as group chief executive, effective Sept. 2.

British union GMB narrowly lost a vote to unionize at Amazon's Coventry warehouse, media reports said.