European stocks advanced, extending a second weekly gain for the Stoxx Europe 600 Index, as companies from Fresenius SE to Kabel Deutschland Holding AG rallied following mergers-and-acquisitions activity.

The Stoxx 600 rose 0.2 percent to 311.43 at 4:30 p.m. in London after earlier dropping as much as 0.4 percent. The equity benchmark has gained 1.7 percent this week as investors awaited the next Federal Reserve meeting, while a report showed that Chinese exports grew at a faster-than-expected pace.

The Stoxx 600 fell from its highest level in more than five years yesterday as a report showed the euro area’s industrial output contracted more than forecast.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva to discuss a deal to remove Syria’s chemical weapons. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that the administration of President Barack Obama must stop its military threats and cease arming rebel groups for the nation to give up its chemical arsenal. Obama delayed a decision on military action after Russia proposed putting the chemical weapons under international control.

In the U.S., a Commerce Department report showed that retail sales rose at a slower pace in August. Purchases climbed 0.2 percent, after increasing a revised 0.4 percent in July. The median forecast survey had called for sales to increase 0.5 percent.

The retail report was one of the last pieces of data before the Fed meeting on Sept. 17-18 when policy makers will discuss whether to reduce their monthly bond purchases. Chairman Ben S. Bernanke has said that the central bank may consider tapering if the economy continues to grow in line with its forecasts.

National benchmark indexes climbed in 11 of the 18 western-European markets.

FTSE 100 6,583.8 -5.18 -0.08% CAC 40 4,114.5 +7.87 +0.19% DAX 8,509.42 +15.42 +0.18%

Fresenius increased 3.6 percent to 91.10 euros and Rhoen-Klinikum rallied 11 percent to 19.45 euros. The boards of both German companies endorsed the deal for Fresenius’s Helios unit to buy 43 hospitals from Rhoen-Klinikum. The deal requires regulatory approval and the support of minority shareholders and the former owners of some of the hospitals. Fresenius said that the purchase will add 2 billion euros in annual revenue and 250 million euros in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Kabel Deutschland jumped 6.3 percent to 91.82 euros, the highest price since its initial public offering in March 2010. Vodafone Group Plc said that at least 75 percent of the German company’s shareholders supported its 7.7 billion-euro bid before yesterday’s deadline expired. Kabel Deutschland investors who haven’t tendered their shares will get a second chance to do so from Sept. 17 to Sept. 30.

Carlsberg A/S gained 1.6 percent to 579 kroner. The brewer predicted that it will sustain the 5 percent organic-sales growth in the China from the first half. Separately, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised the stock to neutral, the equivalent of hold, from sell. The brokerage cited the improving economy in Europe and cost-saving measures.

BHP Billiton slid 2 percent to 1,885 pence and Anglo American, the world’s largest platinum producer, lost 3.2 percent to 1,568.5 pence as a gauge of mining companies posted the biggest decline of the 19 industry groups in the Stoxx 600.

TDC dropped 3.1 percent to 46.41 kroner as a group of private-equity firms sold its stake in the company for 4.17 billion-krone ($744 million). NTC sold 90 million shares at 46.30 kroner apiece. That amounted to an 11 percent stake in TDC, (TDC) according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. which managed the sale.

U.S. stock-index futures were little changed as retail sales rose less than forecast and investors awaited a Federal Reserve meeting that may lead to stimulus cuts.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  14,404.67 +17.40 +0.12%

Hang Seng 22,915.28 -38.44 -0.17%

Shanghai Composite 2,236.22 -19.39 -0.86%

FTSE  6,572.84 -16.14 -0.24%

CAC  4,102.6 -4.03 -0.10%

DAX 8,500.83 +6.83 +0.08%

Crude oil $107.88 -0.66%

Gold $1318.00 -0.95%

European stocks declined, paring the Stoxx Europe 600 Index’s second weekly gain, as investors awaited a report on U.S. retail sales, while America and Russia held talks on Syria. U.S. index futures were little changed, while Asian shares also retreated.

The Stoxx 600 fell from its highest level in more than five years yesterday as a report showed the euro area’s industrial output contracted more than forecast. The gauge has still advanced this week amid better-than-expected economic data from China and as U.S. President Barack Obama delayed a decision on military action against Syria.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva to discuss a deal to remove Syria’s chemical weapons. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that the administration of President Barack Obama must stop its military threats and cease arming rebel groups for the nation to give up its chemical arsenal.

TDC A/S fell 2.9 percent as a shareholder offered a stake of 11 percent in Denmark’s biggest phone company.

Fresenius SE rose 4.1 percent after the health-care company’s Helios unit agreed to buy 43 hospitals from Rhoen-Klinikum AG.

Carlsberg A/S climbed 1.6 percent after forecasting sustained organic sales growth in China for the rest of the year.

FTSE 100 6,571.69 -17.29 -0.26%

CAC 40 4,100.17 -6.46 -0.16%

DAX 8,481.44 -12.56 -0.15%

Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index snapping an 11-day rally, as the U.S. and Russia hold talks on Syria and investors await the outcome of a Federal Reserve meeting next week.

Nikkei 225 14,404.67 +17.40 +0.12%

Hang Seng 22,893.88 -59.84 -0.26%

S&P/ASX 200 5,219.63 -22.91 -0.44%

Shanghai Composite 2,236.22 -19.39 -0.86%

BHP Billiton Ltd., the biggest mining company, slipped 1 percent in Sydney as metal futures headed for a weekly decline.

Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd., which has the world’s largest merchant shipping fleet, fell 3.5 percent after a gauge of freight rates halted an eight-day rally.

Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd., the world’s No. 2 developer by market value, dropped 1.8 percent in Hong Kong after setting a lower sales target this year.

Nikkei 225 -0,26 -37,80 14,387.27%

Hang Seng 22,932.77 -4.37 -0.02%

S & P / ASX 200 5,242.54 8,15 0,16%

Shanghai Composite 2,255.6 14,34 0,64%

FTSE 100 6,588.98 +0.55 +0.01%

CAC 40 4,106.63 -12.48 -0.30%

DAX 8,494 -1.73 -0.02%   

Dow -25.96 15,300.64 -0.17%

Nasdaq -9.04 3,715.97 -0.24%

S&P -5.7 1,683.43 -0.34%