12:12 PM EDT, 10/02/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed mostly higher in Wednesday trading as The Stoxx Europe 600 was up 0.02%, the Swiss Market Index gained 0.29%, France's CAC increased 0.05%, the FTSE in London rose 0.17%, while Germany's DAX was off 0.25%.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.4% in the euro area in August, which is unchanged from the previous month, and down from 6.6% a year earlier, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the EU, the unemployment rate was 5.9% in August, down from 6.0% in July and a year earlier.

And in corporate news, the European Commission said Wednesday that it has sent a request for information under the Digital Services Act to YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok inquiring about the platforms' recommender systems. The Commission said YouTube and Snapchat were asked to share detailed parameters used in their algorithms to recommend content to users, and to provide information on their role in amplifying issues related to civic discourse. The Commission also said it asked TikTok to provide more information about the steps it has taken to prevent malicious actors from manipulating the platform.

Stellantis' Chief Executive Carlos Tavares will speak to Italy's Commission for Productive Activities, Commerce, and Tourism, on Oct. 11 about the company's automotive manufacturing in the country, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed to MT Newswires in an email Tuesday. The European automaker also reported Q3 total sales Wednesday of 305,294 vehicles, down 20% from a year earlier.

Novo Nordisk has implemented measures to avoid production disruptions caused by US port strikes, according to media reports Tuesday. According to the reports, the company's spokesperson said it plans to transport its products to and from the US using air freight. Novo Nordisk did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment. Shares of the Danish pharmaceutical company dropped 1.7% in Copenhagen.

Shares of JD Sports Fashion closed 6% lower in London after it said Wednesday that same-store-sales growth declined 5.3% in the first half of the year. The retailer said "trading was impacted negatively by key product lines being delayed by the Red Sea issues earlier in the year and an earlier Easter falling outside the camping season for the first time since 2018."

Rio Tinto Group said Wednesday that it completed its acquisition of Mitsubishi's approximately 12% stake in Boyne Smelters on Monday. Financial terms were not disclosed. Shares of the British mining company closed 1.5% higher in London.