12:08 PM EDT, 06/11/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed mostly lower in Wednesday trading as the Stoxx Europe 600 dropped 0.19%, Germany's DAX was down 0.05%, the FTSE 100 increased 0.13%, France's CAC 40 fell 0.36% and the Swiss Market Index declined 0.29%.

The euro was the dominant currency for extra-European Union exports in 2024, accounting for 51.7% of transactions and was the most used currency in 20 of the 27 EU countries, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. The US dollar followed at 31.4% and was the primary export currency for six EU member states.

The euro maintained its position as the world's second most important currency in 2024, with its international use remaining broadly stable at around 19% since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to the European Central Bank. The currency faces new challenges, including initiatives promoting the global use of cryptocurrencies, alongside other factors like central banks accumulating gold and shifts in trade invoicing patterns.

In the UK, making direct comparisons of homelessness statistics between England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales is challenging due to differing frameworks, according to the Office for National Statistics. However, overall trends show the number of households assessed as homeless and those in temporary accommodation reached record highs in England, Scotland, and Wales by March 2024.

Accommodation establishments in Germany reported 41 million overnight stays in April 2025, an 11% increase from a year ago, due to the late Easter holidays, according to Germany's Federal Statistical Office. While domestic tourism saw a significant 12.4% rise in April, total overnight stays for the first four months of 2025 remained at a similar level to the record year 2024.

Shares of Viaplay were up 4.9%, a day after it agreed to a long-term partnership with Prima Group to launch Viaplay Select in the Czech Republic market. Prima Group said that select programming from Viaplay will feature on its linear television channels.