By Danilo Masoni
MILAN (Reuters) - Dealmaking activity drove sharp share price moves in Europe on Friday with British engineer GKN (L:GKN) leaping after it rejected an unsolicited offer from rival Melrose (L:MRON).
A gain of over 20 percent in GKN and strength in the auto sector (SXAP) offset weakness among energy stocks, helping the pan-European STOXX 600 (STOXX) benchmark steady after losses in the previous two sessions.
The STOXX is also set to end the week little changed as a strengthening euro and expectations that the European Central Bank could reduce its stimulus sooner than expected cooled down the new year's euphoria.
A rise in the euro on news that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats had agreed a blueprint for formal coalition negotiations held back gains but the German talks had little other impact.
The index however remained near 2-1/2 year highs as solid economic data had fuelled inflows into the region's equities.
"Europe Equity Funds posted consecutive weekly inflows for the first time since late October, helped by the first retail commitments in nearly two months, as investors responded to some rosy forecasts for the region's economic growth," said Cameron Brandt, Research Director at U.S.-based EPFR, in a note.
After rejecting Melrose, GKN set out plans to split into separate aerospace and automotive businesses after rejecting the bid from Melrose, which follows problems at GKN's U.S. business making aircraft components
Kering (PA:PRTP) briefly hit a record high after the French luxury goods group announced plans to spin off German sports brand Puma (DE:PUMG) to its shareholders to focus squarely on its more upmarket brands.
Puma slumped 6.1 percent, while Kering reversed course and was down 1.6 percent. Minority Puma shareholders had been hoping for a tie-up between Puma and another industry player rather than a spin-off, one trader said.
Elsewhere, earnings updates drove price action on Friday.
Vivendi (PA:VIV) fell 1.7 percent after the acquisitive media conglomerate lowered its 2017 full-year guidance for core operating profit and revenues, penalized by higher restructuring costs tied to its pay-TV unit Canal Plus.
Danish food ingredients developer Chr Hansen (CO:CHRH) fell 6 percent, leading losers on the STOXX, after first-quarter results fell short of analyst estimates.
Autos were the biggest sectoral gainer, up 1.4 percent, boosted by GKN and a rise to a fresh record high for Fiat Chrysler (MI:FCHA), which has been recently supported by fresh speculation of possible strategic deals.
The energy index (SXEP) inched lower 0.2 percent as oil prices retreated from big gains on Thursday. [O/R]