European stock markets closed mixed in Friday trading with the Stoxx 600 down 0.5%, Germany's DAX shedding 0.5%, the UK's FTSE 100 edging up 0.1%, France's CAC 40 declining 0.5%, and the Swiss Market Index adding 0.3%.
In economic news, the Eurozone consumer price index, or CPI, rose 2.8% on year June, cooling from a 3.2% gain logged in May, Eurostat said. In the broader EU, the CPI rose 2.9% on year in June, easing from 3.3% in May.
In geopolitical news, US Central Command said in a post on X that it completed the sixth consecutive wave of attacks against Iran, degrading the nation's military capabilities and holding it "accountable" for recent attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said it had targeted US military forces in Syria and Bahrain in a broadening of the scope of its attacks in the Middle East.
Brent Crude was rising 2.4% to $86.28.
Separately, incoming UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to announce support for new North Sea oil and gas drilling and plans to bring Thames Water under public control shortly after taking office, Bloomberg reported. Burnham, who is due to succeed Keir Starmer on Monday, has asked civil servants to prepare energy and water policy proposals that could be announced as early as next week, according to the report. Options under consideration include backing development of the Jackdaw gas and Rosebank oil fields and expanding drilling tied to existing North Sea projects.
In corporate news, ASML will give its workers globally a one-time 20,000 euro ($22,862) bonus, as AI demand boosts sales, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing an emailed statement. The company plans to give employees a share award on Jan. 1 that begins vesting at the start of 2030 for workers who stay with the company for the entire period, the report said, citing the statement. "Through this one-time award, eligible employees will have the opportunity to become shareholders in ASML and share in the company's future success," ASML said in an emailed statement to MT Newswires. ASML shares fell 4.3% in Amsterdam.
ConocoPhillips said Friday it has agreed to acquire a 42% stake in BP's BP Energy Co. of Kirkuk, which oversees the ongoing redevelopment of four large-scale, currently producing oil fields in northern Iraq's Kirkuk region. Financial terms were not provided. BP shares rose 1.4% in London.
Novo Nordisk's Wegovy received approval from India's drug regulator for use in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, Reuters reported. MASH is a serious fatty liver disease that can cause inflammation and liver damage, the report said. Novo shares shed 1.8% in Copenhagen.
Electronic Arts is expected to receive EU approval under the bloc's foreign subsidy rules for its proposed $55 billion acquisition by an investor group led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Reuters reported. The European Commission is expected to clear the deal after its preliminary review under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation on July 30, the report said. The deal is also expected to get unconditional EU merger approval when the bloc's initial antitrust review ends on July 22, according to the report.
AbbVie's Allergan Aesthetics said Friday it received European Commission approval for Boey botulinum neurotoxin serotype E to temporarily improve the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines in adults when they have an important psychological impact. The company said the approval covers all 30 countries in the European Economic Area.
XPeng unveiled its L03 SUV in Munich, marking its first global vehicle launch outside China as it expands in Europe and other overseas markets, The Wall Street Journal reported. The battery-electric L03 starts at 35,600 euros ($40,800) in Germany, the report said.
