Puig plunges after Estée Lauder tie-up talks terminated; European stocks rise

LONDON — Shares listed in Europe moved higher on Friday, with the U.S.-Iran war and economic data in focus.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.6% shortly after 11:20 a.m. in London (6:20 a.m. E.T.). Major bourses in London, Paris, Frankfurt and Milan all traded higher, with most regional sectors moving into the green in morning dealmaking.

A rally in Europe on Friday would put regional stocks on course for their fourth consecutive day of gains. The Stoxx 600 is currently on track for a weekly rise of 2.25%.

Shares in Puig tumbled in morning trade after discussions between the Spanish beauty conglomerate and U.S. cosmetics giant Estée Lauder over a potential business combination ended.

Puig was last seen trading almost 14% lower. Estée Lauder shares surged overnight, rising more than 10% in after-hours trading.

U.K. data showed that retail sales fell 1.3% in April from the previous month, after rising 0.6% in March. Fuel sales fell more than 10%, officials said, with some retailers reporting that motorists were conserving fuel amid price volatility because of the war in the Middle East.

Oil prices surged on Thursday after Tehran reportedly said it would insist on keeping enriched uranium in Iran, renewing concerns about a prolonged conflict that would disrupt the oil market for longer than expected.

Oil extended its rally into Friday, with global benchmark Brent crude up 2.7% at $105.29 a barrel.

Investors also monitored a raft of European economic data released on Friday. The GfK German Consumer Confidence report for June showed a slight improvement in consumer sentiment in Europe's largest economy. The indicator rose from -33.1 to -29.8, driven primarily by growing income expectations.

Meanwhile, France's manufacturing climate index rose to 102 in May, up from 100 in April, its highest reading in four months.

A separate print from the U.K. showed its government borrowed a higher-than-expected £24.3 billion ($32.6 billion) in April. It exceeded official forecasts by £3.4 billion. The budget deficit – borrowing to fund day-to-day public sector activities – hit £17.4 billion last month, exceeding forecasts by £2.6 billion.

The yield on 10-year Gilts — the benchmark for British government debt — was more than 5 basis points lower at 4.921%. The pound was last seen broadly flat against the dollar, at $1.3426.