Little European Action as Santa Decides Investors Have Been Nice and Deserve a Break

European markets are mixed in early trading on Wednesday, as most prepare for the Christmas break with half day trading. Frankfurt and Milan are closed today. British Medical equipment maker Smith & Nephew rises on talk of a possible bid from U.S. surgical implant company Stryker Corp. HeidelbergCement, the German cement group, says it has agreed to sell its U.S. and U.K. businesses to private equity’s Lone Star Funds. Spanish bank BBVA gets little credit from the market for the sale of a stake Hong Kong financial services business back to its Chinese partner China Citic Bank.