12:13 PM EST, 01/22/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed mostly higher in Wednesday trading as The Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.39%, Germany's DAX climbed 1.01% higher, the FTSE 100 in London was off 0.04%, France's CAC 40 gained 0.86%, and the Swiss Market Index advanced 0.80%.

In the UK, the S&P Global UK Consumer Sentiment Index for January, which tracks consumer financial wellbeing, labor market conditions, household spending, and savings and debt, fell to a 12-month low of 43.6 down from 46.6 in December.

In Switzerland, Swiss National Bank Chairman Martin Schlegel said Wednesday that the central bank could lower interest rates, possibly below 0% if inflation falls too much, Reuters reported.

In Germany, exports to countries outside the European Union declined 0.8% in December, compared with November, adjusted for calendar and season effects, according to the Federal Statistical Office. The FSO also said preliminary results show 58.8 billion euros worth of goods were exported in December, also adjusted for calendar and season effects.

And in corporate news, European automaker Stellantis ( STLA ) is recalling 63,082 Jeep Cherokees in the US due to issues with a loss of drive power related to a power transfer unit issue, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday, Reuters reported. The recall affects certain 2017-2019 model year Jeep Cherokee vehicles, the report said. Stellantis ( STLA ) did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

Ameresco said Wednesday that it has seen progress on its two solar projects on former landfill sites in North Ayrshire, Scotland, in partnership with Detra Solar.