European Stocks Rise as Oil Prices Fall Below $100 a Barrel

BAGHDAD, Iraq — European shares closed higher on Wednesday as oil prices fell below $100 a barrel and auto stocks advanced. The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.1%, with gains also recorded in the Paris, Frankfurt and London markets. Lower crude prices and strength in the automotive sector were the main factors supporting trading. Investors also showed cautious optimism about the course of talks, despite military tensions with Iran. In company news, shares in the Netherlands-based AkzoNobel jumped 20% after it rejected a joint takeover offer. The broader market was shaped by falling energy costs and corporate moves.