Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena said it will put its offer for the shares of peer Mediobanca to shareholders starting from July 14.

Hyundai Steel shares rose sharply Thursday amid hopes for improved earnings and an industrywide recovery, leading gains among South Korean steel stocks.

Beijing views its relation with the EU as a partnership, not a rivalry, China's foreign ministry said, after the bloc called for China to end "distortive practices" including rare-earths curbs.