12:00 PM EST, 02/27/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed mostly lower in Thursday trading as the Stoxx Europe 600 declined 0.51%, Germany's DAX dropped 1.19%, the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.28%, France's CAC 40 fell 0.51%, and the Swiss Market Index lost 0.65%.

In February, the Economic Sentiment Indicator rose 1.1 points to 97.1 in the EU and 1 point in the euro area to 96.3, according to the European Commission. However, the Employment Expectations Indicator declined 1.2 points to 98.1 in the EU and 1.5 points to 97.0 in the Euro area. The Commission said both readings remained below their long-term average of 100.

In Spain, annual inflation rose 3.0% in February, up from 2.9% in January, according to a flash estimate from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics. The increase was mainly attributed to rising electricity prices.

In Italy, the consumer confidence index rose to 98.8 in February from 98.2 the previous month, according the Italian National Institute of Statistics. Meanwhile, the personal climate index increased to 98.3 from 97.1, and the economic climate index declined to 100.2 from 101.3.

And in corporate news, Roll-Royce shares surged 16% in London after the aerospace company reported higher earnings and revenue for full-year 2024. It also announced a 1 billion British pounds ($1.27 billion) share buyback program.

Shares of British communications company WPP fell 16% in London after it reported 2024 preliminary headline earnings Thursday of 0.883 British pounds ($1.12) per diluted share, down from 0.938 pounds a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet expect 0.87 pounds. Revenue minus pass-through costs for the year is expected to be 11.36 billion pounds, down from 11.86 billion pounds a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect 11.45 billion pounds.

Ferrari shareholder Exor said Thursday that it has sold 7 million of its shares in the Italian carmaker, or about 4% of the total outstanding shares of the company, to institutional investors for total proceeds of 3 billion euros ($3.14 billion). Shares of Ferrari fell 8% in Milan.

German internet browser company Opera reported Q4 adjusted earnings Thursday of $0.28 per diluted share, compared with $0.24 a year earlier. Three analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $0.26. Revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 31 was $145.8 million, compared with $113 million a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected $137.9 million. Shares of Opera were up nearly 7% in Frankfurt.