European Stocks Close Higer in Friday Trading; Euro Area Inflation Rises Faster Than Expected

11:51 AM EDT, 10/02/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed higher Friday despite data showing that euro area inflation rose faster than expected. The Stoxx Europe rose 1%, Germany's DAX gained 1.1%, the FTSE 100 increased 0.3%, France's CAC advanced 0.7%, and the Swiss Market Index was up 0.5%. Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 3.8% in September, up from 3.2% in August, according to a flash estimate from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Analysts polled by Bloomberg expected 3.7%. Among the main components, energy is expected to have the highest annual inflation rate at 18.8%, up from 14.3% in August. Eurostat also reported that the euro area seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was an estimated 6.4% in August, which was unchanged from July and up from 6.3% a year earlier. The EU unemployment rate was 6.1% in August, which was also flat from the previous month, and up from 6.0% a year earlier. In corporate news, Eni, Shell, Chevron, LUKOIL and KazMunaiGas operate the Karachaganak field, where output fell to 42,000 barrels per day in September from 241,000 barrels per day in August due to maintenance, Reuters reported Friday, citing an industry source. Kazakhstan's oil and gas condensate production fell 7% in September from August to 7.65 million metric tons, or 1.92 million barrels per day, according to the report. Kazakhstan energy ministry, Karachaganak and Tengiz did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment. Shares of Eni gained 1.1% in Milan, while Shell increased 0.3% BP continued negotiations with elected representatives of the United Steelworkers Local 7-1 trade union for its Whiting refinery but failed to reach an agreement, the company said Thursday. "The meeting did not result in the progress we had hoped to make on key issues still separating the parties," BP said in a statement. The British multinational oil and gas firm on Tuesday had proposed a six-year labor contract for workers at its Whiting refinery, including a 150-day strike or lockout notice period, to provide greater certainty on pay, benefits and working conditions. BP remains committed to reaching an agreement so that the union-represented employees can return to work, it said. The ongoing labor dispute has had no impact on the refinery's operations, the company added. Shares of BP were edged 0.1% higher in London. Ryanair flew 20.1 million passengers in September, up 4% from 19.4 million a year earlier, the company said Friday. More than 1,000 flights were cancelled because of a further UK air traffic control system failure, Belgian air traffic control strikes and Mount Etna eruptions, the company said in a regulatory submission. Shares of the Irish airline advanced 3% in Dublin.