European Stocks Extend Weekly Gains

(RTTNews) - European stocks were little changed on Friday, holding on to modest weekly gains as Russian lawmakers finalized the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.

Meanwhile, the prime minister of Ukraine signs a trade pact with the European Union.

The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone blue-chip stocks rose 0.41 percent. The index was up 3.3 percent for the week.

The German DAX gained 0.66 percent today, the French CAC 40 rose 0.40 percent and the UK's FTSE 100 rose 0.34 percent. Switzerland's SMI added 0.34 percent.

Commodity producers rallied on higher metal prices. Rio Tinto gained 2 percent.

Meggitt rose 0.36 on a but recommendation from UBS.

Commerzbank climbed 2.5 percent to 13.32 euros. Morgan Stanley raised the German lender to "overweight."

BrainJuicer jumped 10 percent. The online market researcher reported a sharp increase in full-year profit, and proposed a second special dividend, in addition to the final dividend.

French ad agency Havas slipped 1.8 percent after saying net income rose to 128 million euros ($177 million).

Remy Cointreau fell 3.9 percent on a sales warning from UBS.

Fitch Ratings on Friday maintained the 'AAA' ratings of the United States of America and the 'stable' outlook on the country's ratings, dismissing concerns over a possible downgrade in March.