11:47 AM EDT, 10/06/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European stock markets closed higher in Tuesday trading amid growing political unrest in France and Spain, and easing oil prices.

The Stoxx Europe rose 0.5%, Germany's DAX gained 0.8%, the FTSE 100 increased 0.4%, France's CAC advanced 0.5%, and the Swiss Market Index grew 0.6%.

In corporate news, HSBC was questioned by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority over its decision to locate its new global AI center in Singapore rather than in the Chinese territory, the Financial Times reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the discussions.

The bank in July revealed plans to recruit more than 100 AI specialists in Singapore to boost its wealth management and payments operations, instead of placing the roles at its regional headquarters in Hong Kong.

The HKMA declined to comment when contacted by MT Newswires, while HSBC said it has nothing further to add beyond what appeared in the FT report.

Meanwhile, HSBC and other bank executives met with UK Chancellor John Healey, who told the lenders he is facing a "challenging" fiscal picture but did not indicate whether higher taxes would be imposed on banks, the Financial Times also reported Tuesday.

Other banks represented in the meeting were Banco Santander (SAN), Barclays (BCS), Lloyds (LYG), NatWest Group (NWG), and Nationwide, according to the report.

The banks and the UK Treasury did not immediately reply to MT Newswires' request for comment.

In London, shares of HSBC rose 0.9%, while Lloyds Banking climbed 1.7%, and Barclays and NatWest advanced 0.3% and 0.7% respectively. Banco Santander increased 1.3% in Madrid.

Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, Morgan Stanley, and Royal Bank of Canada's RBC Capital Markets have been named joint lead managers for the UK's Digital Gilt Instrument, or DIGIT, pilot, the UK government said Tuesday.

The appointment of the lead managers is a key step toward issuance of the digital bond, the government said, adding the banks will provide traditional lead manager services like underwriting, supporting investor engagement, and distributing the digital bond on issuance day.

SAP has signed an agreement to acquire TechWolf, which operates an artificial intelligence platform, the companies said Tuesday.

SAP currently expects TechWolf to remain an independent entity after acquisition, with its platform available to both SAP and non-SAP customers. The deal is expected to close in Q4, subject to regulatory approval.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Shares of SAP rose 2.1% in Frankfurt.

UBS Group will transfer its fund administration businesses in Switzerland and Luxembourg acquired from Credit Suisse to Northern Trust, the latter said Tuesday.

Subject to regulatory approvals, UBS's Swiss and Luxembourg management companies will extend their existing fund administration deal with Northern Trust to funds currently administered by UBS, the company said.

The migration will be carried out in phases over two years, and the transfer is expected to close in Q2 2027, after which UBS intends to exit fund administration, Northern Trust said.

Shares of the Swiss lender closed 1.6% higher in Zurich.

Shell CEO Wael Sawan said he sees a competitive advantage in Venezuela in gas rather than heavy oil, and the company will continue to seek other opportunities in the country, Reuters reported Tuesday.

In June, Venezuela signed five agreements with Shell to advance oil and gas projects, including the company's involvement in the 7-trillion-cubic-foot Loren offshore gas field, the report said.

Shell did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

Shares of the British oil and gas major edged the day up 0.6% in London.

GSK's majority owned ViiV Healthcare said Tuesday that a phase 3b study has met its primary endpoint, showing that at six months, Cabenuva saw "superior rates of viral suppression" compared with oral antiretroviral therapy in adults and adolescents with HIV-1, who had detectable virus when they started the trial.

The trial has enrolled 326 participants in eight countries at 85 study sites, the company said.

Shares of GSK edged 0.2% higher in London.

Smith & Nephew's CartiHeal Agili-C Cartilage Repair Implant is now commercially available in Europe, following its US launch in 2024 and expanding access to the technology, the company said Tuesday.

The aragonite-based implant, designed to repair cartilage, restore bone and relieve pain, will be featured at the International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society Summit in Porto, Portugal, from Oct. 8 to Oct. 10.

Shares of Smith & Nephew gained 0.6 % in London.

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