12:12 PM EST, 11/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed mostly higher in Wednesday trading as the Stoxx Europe rose 0.13%, Germany's DAX gained 0.10%, France's CAC fell 0.18%, and the Swiss Market Index was up 0.39%, while the FTSE 100 was down 0.47%.

The annual inflation rate in the euro area was 2.1% in October, down from 2.2% in September, while inflation for the European Union declined to 2.5% from 2.6%, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU.

The lowest annual rates were in Cyprus (0.2%), France (0.8%) and Italy (1.3%), while the highest annual inflation was in Romania (8.4%), Estonia (4.5%) and Latvia (4.3%). Compared with September, annual inflation fell in 15 member countries, remained unchanged in three, and rose in nine.

In the UK, annual inflation was 3.6% in October, down from 3.8% in September, according to the Office for National Statistics. The decline was led by lower housing and household services prices, the ONS said.

And in corporate news, Nokia said Wednesday that it will reorganize the company into separate network infrastructure and mobile infrastructure operating segments, effective Jan. 1.

The network segment will be led by David Heard and consists of three optical, IP, and fixed network units, the company said. The mobile segment will be led by Justin Hotard on an interim basis and will consist of core software, radio networks, and technology standards units, the company said.

The Finnish telecommunications company fell 7% in Helsinki.

Lloyds Banking Group said Wednesday it is acquiring London-based digital wallet platform Curve. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

The Curve Pay technology and digital wallet integration into Lloyds' current digital services will enhance payments experiences for Lloyds clients within its mobile banking, the company said. Lloyds intends to complete the acquisition in H1 next year, it said, adding that the deal will not affect its full-year outlook for 2025 or 2026.

Shares of the British lender declined 1.6% on the FTSE 100.

Deutsche Bank has refinanced $150 million of a $350 million loan originated by Mizuho Bank to finance Oyo Hotels founder Ritesh Agarwal's purchase of shares in his company, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The refinancing could help Agarwal focus on taking the company public, the report said.

Deutsche Bank, Mizuho Bank, and Oyo Hotels did not immediately reply to MT Newswires' requests for comment.

Shares of Deutsche Bank rose 1.3% on the DAX.

US-based biotech firm Scynexis said Wednesday it has completed the transfer of the new drug application for Brexafemme, or ibrexafungerp, to British pharmaceutical company GSK.

The transfer allows GSK to begin working with the US Food and Drug Administration on a plan to relaunch Brexafemme for vulvovaginal candidiasis and refractory vulvovaginal candidiasis in the US, Scynexis Chief Executive Officer David Angulo said.

Shares of GSK were off 0.6% in London.