Novo Nordisk drops 5% after U.S. lists its drugs for price talks; European stocks rise

European Markets Performance: European markets, particularly London's FTSE 100, are experiencing positive momentum with the Stoxx 600 index up by 0.69% and mining stocks leading gains amid merger talks between Glencore and Rio Tinto.

U.K. Economic Data Impact: Disappointing U.K. retail sales data and weaker economic growth figures have led to a decline in the British pound and increased expectations for interest rate cuts by the Bank of England, while government borrowing costs fell.