By Investors Hub
European stocks are mostly higher on Wednesday as new rules for the region’s financial markets, known as Mifid II, came into force and the euro edged lower for the first time in six days.
There is also some respite on the economic front as official data showed that Germany’s jobless rate held steady at a record low of 5.5 percent in December, bolstering optimism over the health of Europe’s largest economy.
On the flip side, U.K. construction activity grew at a slower pace in December, survey results from IHS Markit showed.
While the U.K.?s FTSE 100 Index is just above the unchanged line, the French CAC 40 Index and the German DAX Index are both up by 0.5 percent.
Switzerland-based Addex Therapeutics has jumped on news the company signed a licensing and collaboration agreement with Indivior for global development and commercialization of ADX71441 for the treatment of addiction.
Apple supplier AMS has also advanced after a rally in technology companies boosted U.S. stocks to record highs overnight.
Clothing retailer Next Plc has soared in London after raising its full-year profit guidance.
HeidelbergCement shares have also risen after the building materials company said the significant reduction of the effective tax rate in the U.S. will have a positive effect on its net profits and cash flow starting in the year 2019.
