Shares in Novo Nordisk rose more than 3% on Wednesday after the Danish drug developer delivered a better-than-expected earnings outlook for 2022 despite missing fourth quarter operating profit expectations.

FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Novartis forecast its sales and core operating profit would grow at a mid-single-digit rate this year, as the Swiss pharmaceuticals group nears a decision on whether to keep or sell its generics business Sandoz.

STOCKHOLM(Reuters) -Swedish lender Swedbank reported slightly worse than expected quarterly earnings on Wednesday, with a drop in interest income disappointing investors and sending its shares down more than 4%.

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Novo Nordisk on Wednesday missed analysts' expectations for fourth-quarter operating profit, but the Danish drug developer said it aims to generate sales growth of between 6% and 10% in local currencies in 2022.

MADRID (Reuters) -Spain's Santander said on Wednesday a release of 750 million euros ($845 million) in pandemic-related provisions and a strong performance in the United States and Britain drove an eight-fold rise in fourth-quarter net profit compared to a year earlier.

Swedish bank Swedbank on Wednesday reported a slightly lower-than-expected operating profit for the fourth quarter as weaker results from fixed income trading weighed and global supply problems tempered economic growth.