Shares of industrial and transportation companies were more or less flat as deal activity offset wholesale inflation fears.
German arms maker Rheinmetall agreed to sell its automotive business to Munich-based industrial group Aequita for a provisional price of about $407.1 million, tightening its focus on defense product as Europe undergoes a period of rearmament.
Volvo Car said global sales fell 5.5% from a year earlier in the latest quarter.
Shares of paint maker AkzoNobel slid after rivals Sherwin-Williams and Nippon Paint Holdings said they were dropping their efforts to jointly buy the Dutch firm, which recently turned down a $14.53 billion takeover bid.
Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com
