European shares up despite Brexit worries.

European shares ended a choppy trading session higher on Friday, as investors weighed signs of a pick up in MandA activity against the economic threat from growing prospects of a no-deal Brexit.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.1% and ended the week about 1.8% higher. The index has been in a holding pattern since June as economic growth lost momentum due to a stronger euro, increasing the cost of European exports.

Meanwhile, the EU is ramping up preparations for a tumultuous end to the four-year Brexit saga as top officials prepared to brief its 27 members on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to break the divorce treaty.

Most of the major sector indexes were lower, a day after the ECB held interest rates steady and said it was...