01:24 PM EDT, 03/22/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed mixed in Friday trading as The Stoxx Europe 600 nudged 0.02% higher, the Swiss Market Index fell 0.44%, France's CAC was down 0.34%, the FTSE in London rose 0.61%, and Germany's DAX closed 0.18% higher.

In Germany, residential real estate prices fell by an average of 7.1% in Q4 of 2023 compared to Q4 of 2022, according to the Federal Statistical Office as prices fell for the fifth quarter in a row.

In the UK, retail sales volumes were unchanged in February, following a 3.6% rise the previous month, according to the Office for National Statistics. Although clothing and department stores sales volumes grew, this was offset by a decline in food and fuel sales.

In France, house prices in metropolitan France fell 1.7% in Q4 of 2023 from the previous quarter, according to the Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies.

And in corporate news, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority warned Friday that British telecommunications operator Vodafone's (VOD) proposed merger with fellow UK telecommunications firm Three UK could lead to higher prices and reduced quality. The CMA also said that combining two of Britain's major mobile network operators would stifle competition.

The companies responded in a joint statement saying they are unable to cover their cost of capital and are "constrained in their ability to invest and compete effectively against the two market leaders," adding that the UK is falling behind other European countries in quality of mobile network services.

Spain's National Securities Market Commission said Thursday that Spanish pharmaceutical company Grifols' (GRFS) financial reports had no significant errors but contained deficiencies. The announcement was made in response to a report from short seller Gotham City Research that accused the company of deceptive accounting.

LVMH said Thursday that Toni Belloni will step down as group managing director and executive committee chairman of the French luxury goods giant. The company tapped Stephane Bianchi as Belloni's successor.

And shares of Phoenix Group climbed more than 8% higher on the FTSE in London in Friday trading after the company reported 2023 results and said it reached its 2025 growth target two years early.

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