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Dec 6 (Reuters) - European shares inched higher on Friday as
comments from U.S. President Donald Trump that trade talks with
China were "moving right along" helped inject some calm into the
markets after a rocky week.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.3% by 0819
GMT, with banks, technology firms and retail companies leading
the gains.
M&A activity boosted insurers .SXIP after Phoenix Group
Holdings Plc PHNX.L said it would buy the British insurance
unit of Swiss Re SRENH.S in a cash-and-shares deal worth 3.2
billion pounds ($4.1 billion). Swiss Re AG shares rose 2.8%,
while Phoenix Group was up 1.6%. Despite Friday's gains, the STOXX 600 was on track to post
its biggest weekly decline in two months after conflicting
headlines on trade and weak euro zone economic indicators made
for a volatile trading session.
Fresh numbers showed Germany's industrial output
unexpectedly dropped in October, reviving worries about its
economic growth outlook. Frankfurt-listed shares .GDAXI rose
0.2%.