12:07 PM EDT, 03/25/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European stock markets tracked higher in Tuesday trading as the Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.54%, Germany's DAX increased 0.76%, the FTSE 100 in London was up 0.34%, France's CAC 40 advanced 0.83%, and the Swiss Market Index gained 0.22%.

The European Commission said Tuesday that it will tighten steel import restrictions to protect the EU's steel industry from a surge in imports. The Commission said it is lowering the liberalization rate to 0.1% from 1% to limit the amount of steel imported into the EU without tariffs.

The Commission said most of the adjustments will take effect April 1.

In Germany, business climate sentiment among companies improved in March, according to the ifo Business Climate Index, which rose to 86.7 points in March from 85.3 points in February. The reading is down from 87.7 a year earlier. The ifo report said German companies were more satisfied with their current business situation, and that their expectations rose significantly, adding that businesses in the country are hoping for a recovery.

And in corporate news, Apple is likely to avoid a fine because the tech giant has made changes to the iPhone's browser design to comply with the Digital Markets Act. The European Commission is expected to conclude its investigation early next week, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter. Apple did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.

Shell said Tuesday it will raise shareholder distributions to 40% to 50% of cash flow from operations from 30% to 40% previously, while keeping its 4% annual dividend rate. The company also said it aims to strengthen its position in liquefied natural gas by increasing sales by 4% to 5% annually until 2030.

HSBC is considering outsourcing some of its fixed-income trading order flow to an outside market maker to save costs and compete with larger rivals, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing sources. People familiar with the matter told the news outlet that the decision would enable HSBC to save millions of dollars in costs associated with running global trading desks. HSBC declined a request for comment from MT Newswires.

Tesla's market share in Europe decreased in February from a year earlier, Reuters reported Tuesday citing data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. Sales for the electric car maker fell for a second month amid increased competition and a slowdown in European economies. Tesla did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.