01:11 PM EDT, 03/13/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European stock markets closed mostly higher in Wednesday trading as the Stoxx Europe 600 was up 0.16%, the Swiss Market Index gained 0.24%, France's CAC rose 0.62%, the FTSE in London increased 0.31%, and Germany's DAX closed 0.03% lower.

Seasonally adjusted industrial production decreased 3.2% in the euro area and 2.1% in the EU in January from December, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. Compared with January 2023, industrial production decreased 6.7% in the euro area and 5.7% in the EU.

In the UK, monthly real gross domestic product rose an estimated 0.2% in January after declining 0.1% in December, according to the Office for National Statistics. Real GDP fell an estimated 0.1% in the three months to January, compared with the three months to October.

In Germany, wholesale sales prices declined 3% in February from a year earlier, according to the Federal Statistical Office.

In corporate news, pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly (LLY) said Wednesday it is partnering with Amazon's (AMZN) pharmacy unit to deliver some of its most widely used prescription drugs via its LillyDirect consumer services.

UK oil and gas company BP (BP) and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company suspended discussions about acquiring a $2 billion stake in Israel's NewMed Energy. The talks were halted "due to the uncertainty created by the external environment," NewMed said.

Mining stocks rallied on the FTSE in London as Antofagasta rose 5.3%, Glencore and Anglo American both gained 4.8% and Endeavour Mining added 1.4%.

Automotive stocks eased as Volkswagen dropped 5.5% on the DAX, Porsche fell 2.6% and Mercedes and BMW both dropped 1.1%. Stellantis fell 1.4% in Paris.