European stocks were little changed

European stocks were little changed after their first weekly drop since January, as heightened deal activity outweighed data showing that Chinese exports unexpectedly slumped. U.S. stock-index futures were little changed and Asian shares fell.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 0.1 percent to 333.53 at 10:09 a.m. in London. The benchmark gauge slid 1.5 percent last week as company earnings disappointed and concern grew that the standoff between Russia and Ukraine would escalate. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures slipped 0.1 percent, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 1.1 percent.

Overseas shipments in China unexpectedly dropped 18.1 percent in February from a year earlier, according to customs data on March 8. The median estimate of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg called for an increase of 7.5 percent. Producer prices fell 2 percent, the most since July, a statistics bureau report showed yesterday, extending the longest decline since 1999.

Iliad jumped 13 percent to 212.70 euros. Bouygues said it is in exclusive talks to sell part of its network and wireless spectrum to the operator of the Free brand for as much as 1.8 billion euros ($2.5 billion). Bouygues climbed 9.7 percent to 33.02 euros.

Bouygues, the construction and telecommunications company seeking to merge its mobile-phone assets with Vivendi SA’s SFR, said the negotiations will help address antitrust concerns of the French Competition Authority. Vivendi advanced 1.9 percent to 20.71 euros.

Rolls-Royce climbed 2.2 percent to 1,049 pence. Daimler is selling its holding in Rolls-Royce Power Systems under a put option agreed with the maker of commercial-jet engines when the venture was established three years ago. The stake is valued at 1.9 billion pounds ($3.2 billion).

Hochtief AG rose 2.6 percent to 70.08 euros. Germany’s largest builder offered A$1.16 billion ($1.05 billion) to raise its stake in Leighton Holdings Ltd. to as much as 74 percent from 59 percent. Hochtief said the deal was a strategic investment in Australia’s largest builder and it may consider a full takeover.

FTSE 100 6,735.13 +22.46 +0.33%

CAC 40 4,398.27 +31.85 +0.73%

DAX 9,342.95 -7.80 -0.08%