The European stock markets closed mixed in Friday trading as the Stoxx Europe declined 0.36%, Germany's DAX dropped 0.78%, the FTSE 100 gained 0.13%, France's CAC edged 0.02% higher, and the Swiss Market Index rose 0.71%.
The seasonally adjusted HCOB Flash Eurozone Composite PMI Output Index compiled by S&P Global edged lower to 52.4 in November from 52.5 in October, indicating another rise in monthly business activity, albeit at a slightly slower pace.
"For months the manufacturing sector of the eurozone has been marooned in a no-man's land of directionlessness," Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, said in a statement "Production has picked up slightly since March of this year, but the overall situation has not improved during this period," he said, adding that companies continue to face weak demand.
In the UK, private sector output decreased in November as data from S&P Global showed that the flash UK PMI Composite Output Index hit a two-month low of 50.5 in November, compared with 52.2 in the previous month and the consensus of 51.8.
Meanwhile, the UK's Office for National Statistics reported Friday that retail sales volumes fell an estimated 1.1% in October on the heels of a 0.7% increase in September. The reading was well below the analyst forecast of a 0.1% decline, according to Bloomberg.
And in corporate news, BP's 400-mile Olympic Pipeline remains shut after a fuel leak earlier this month near Everett, Washington, Reuters reported Thursday, citing an emailed statement by the company. Response crews have started excavation of the pipelines to allow for visual inspection, BP reportedly said.
Shares of the British oil and gas giant declined 1.1% in London.
AnaptysBio said Friday it filed a complaint in Delaware Chancery Court seeking a declaration that GSK unit Tesaro has "materially breached" the companies' collaboration deal covering cancer drug Jemperli.
The company is also seeking a court declaration that GSK has "tortiously interfered" with the deal, AnaptysBio said. The company has requested that the court declare that AnaptysBio is entitled to all rights and remedies under the agreement.
Shares of GSK gained 1.6% in London.
Telefonica said late Thursday it has been awarded exclusive media rights to the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, Youth League, and Super Cup from 2027 to 2031. The rights are priced at 1.46 billion euros ($1.68 billion) in total, or 366 million euros per season across the four-year term, Telefonica said.
Shares of the Spanish telecommunications operator advanced 1.6% in Madrid
Equinor ASA said Friday it has secured a 10-year deal with energy company Prazska plynarenska to supply gas into the Czech Republic. Gas deliveries have started and will last until 2035, the company said.
Shares of the Norwegian petroleum refiner were lost 2.3% in Oslo.