Jun 01 ,2023
Synopsis
European equity markets are set to open higher amidst mostly higher trading in Asia. Major indexes have reversed earlier weakness following passage of US debt ceiling legislation and latest China manufacturing PMI. Tech driving rebound in Hong Kong after Chinese equites fell into bear market. Nikkei also outperforming. S&P 500 futures steady afterhours. Turnaround in risk sentiment corresponding with reversal higher in Treasury, JGB and Australian yields. Base metals and crude also rebounding. Dollar weakest against Aussie and yen, steady elsewhere.
Of note, US House of Representatives passed debt ceiling legislation as expected. Legislation was passed with a comfortable majority. Bill now heads to the Senate giving lawmakers only few days to pass legislation before 5-Jun X-date. However, last-minute agreement has always been consensus and focus continues to shift to subsequent liquidity drag from looming TGA rebuild. Further in support of global sentiment, China Caixin manufacturing PMI showed May factory activity unexpectedly swung into expansion, contrasting with official gauge that showed manufacturing activity fell by most since December. Caixin PMI components showed notable improvements in production and demand though business outlook dropped to seven-month low. PMI upswing not considered strong enough to shift the bearish narrative on China, where slowing external and domestic demand is keeping pressure on authorities to further loosen policy. Focus will shift onto Manufacturing PMIs from across Europe and UK today as well as Unemployment Rate from Italy and Eurozone, UK M4 and BoE mortgage approvals and Germany Apr retail sales. France, Italy, Spain May new car registrations are also due.
On the agenda for today, of note, second meeting of the European Political Community, Chancellor Scholz among the attendees, and meeting of EU Transport Ministers. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov will visit South Africa; South Africa will host a meeting of the foreign ministers of BRICS nations. Germany's Foreign Minister Baerbock hosts Baltic Sea Council meeting. In central banks, Bank of Ireland's Cross speech at 8:50BST at IoD event whilst Riksbank Financial Stability Report 2023:1 published at 9:30CET, press conf 11:00 as well as ECB minutes. ECB's Enria speech at 14:45CET at 22nd Annual International Conf. on Policy Challenges for the Financial Sector. German Savings Banks Day speakers include ECB's Legarde 11:30CET, Federal Minister of Finance Lindner 12:30 CET.
In corporate news, Remy Cointreau (RCO.FP) posted better-than-expected FY net income at €293.8M vs consensus €290.0M, whilst Current Operating Profit came in at €429.6M vs consensus €434.1M. SAS (SAS.SS), Solstad Offshore (SOFF.NO) due to report out of Nordics, Auto Trader Group (AUTO.LN), Pennon Group (PNN.LN), Dr. Martens (DOCS.LN) scheduled out of the UK. Epiroc (EPI.A.SS), Dottikon ES Holding (DESN.SW), Netcompany Group (NETC.DC) host CMD/ events today.
Politics/ Macro/ World News
Debt ceiling deal: US House overwhelmingly passes bill -- BBC
UN tries to save Black Sea grain deal with 'mutually beneficial' proposal - Reuters
Italy approves bill to set up $1.1B fund for strategic firms - Reuters
UK executives not yet convinced worst is over, survey finds - Bloomberg
Brussels plans four-year financial support for Ukraine - FT
Top company news
Earnings/updates
RCO.FP (Remy Cointreau) -- FY net income €293.8M vs consensus €290.0M
QDT.FP (Quadient) -- reports Q1 revenue €256M vs FactSet €257.7M [3 est, €250.5-263.6M]; confirms FY 2023 guidance
TENERGY.GA (Terna Energy) -- reports Q1 adjusted net income €17.5M, (45%) vs year-ago €31.8M
OVS.IM (OVS) -- reports that despite unfavourable weather in May, the positive trend in sales is continuing - AGM
MKEA.FP (Mauna Kea Technologies) -- Mauna Kea Technnologies secures equity line financing with Vester Finance; receives payment from JV with Tasly
M&A
LONN.SW (Lonza Group) -- Lonza to acquire Synaffix for initial financial consideration of €100M in cash and up to €60M in additional performance-based consideration
JMAT.LN (Johnson Matthey) -- planning to sell medical device components business - Bloomberg
VTSC.GR (Vitesco Technologies) -- to invest $250M in onsemi (ON) to support SiC technology capacity expansion
GNFT.FP (GENFIT) -- licenses rights of ASK1 Inhibitor SRT-015
NETW.LN (Network International Holdings) -- Brookfield Asset Management emerges as frontrunner to acquire Network International - Bloomberg
GIMB.BB (Gimv) -- acquires a majority stake in ERS electronic GmbH for an undisclosed sum
FLS.DC (FLSmidth & Co.) -- acquires Morse Rubber for an undisclosed sum
PHARM.NA (Pharming Group) -- to sell its Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) to Novartis for a pre-agreed, one-time payment of $21.1M
IDL.FP (ID Logistics Group) -- completes the acquisition of Spedimex
FSECURE.FH (F-Secure) -- completes acquisition of mobile consumer security business of Lookout Inc.; updates FY outlook and now expects revenue to exceed €134M
STF.FP (Stef) -- announces the finalization of the operation to sell La Méridionale to the CMA CGM Group
NHOA.FP (NHOA SA) -- NHOA's Atlante completes acquisition of Ressolar EV charging network
Pharmanovia owner Triton hires advisors to run sale of the UK specialty pharma company - Bloomberg
Further speculation around potential M&A in the aged care space - The Australian
All3Media's owners Liberty Global and Warner Bros Discovery consider selling their stakes in the JV - Reuters
Healthcare
AZN.LN (AstraZeneca) -- FDA approves Lynparza for BRCA-mutated prostate cancer
ALCLS.FP (Cellectis SA) -- Cellectis publishes article demonstrating preclinical evidence of UCART20x22 product candidate to target broad spectrum of patients with B-cell malignancies
PHIL.IM (Philogen) -- Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (524715.IN) and Philogen enter exclusive distribution, licensing and supply agreement for commercialization of NIDLEGY in Europe, Australia and New Zealand
Other
LR.FP (Legrand) -- announces description of the share buyback program approved by the combined general meetings
BNR.GR (Brenntag) -- Glass Lewis backs PrimeStone's call for board overhaul at Brenntag - Bloomberg (31-May)
SLHN.SW (Swiss Life Holding) -- completes CHF1B share buyback programme
SBB.B.SS (Samhällsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden) -- SBB confirms that it meets the consolidated coverage ratio as the covenant is calculated in its outstanding Eurobonds
LEO.GR (Leoni) -- receives required majorities for restructuring plan
Index Changes: IMI confirmed to be added to FTSE 100 Index, British Land to be removed
Key rating changes
Upgrades
FSECURE.FH (F-Secure) -- to accumulate from reduce at Inderes
CTEC.LN (ConvaTec Group) -- to overweight from equal-weight at Morgan Stanley
WKL.NA (Wolters Kluwer) -- to outperform from neutral at BNP Paribas Exane
ADE.NO (Adevinta) -- to buy from hold at Danske Bank
HEI.GR (Heidelberg Materials) -- to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan
MB.IM (Mediobanca) -- to buy from hold at Jefferies
NESTE.FH (Neste) -- to buy from neutral at UBS
Downgrades
ARYN.SW (Aryzta) -- to Add from Buy at Baader Helvea
COLO.B.DC (Coloplast) -- to equal-weight from overweight at Morgan Stanley
FORTUM.FH (Fortum) -- to neutral from overweight at JPMorgan
Data
Nikkei +0.82% to 31140.95
Hang Seng +0.75% to 18371.61
Shanghai Composite +0.24% to 3212.11
S&P futures +4.3 vs prior close of 4190.5
€-$ (0.0008) or (0.07%) to 1.0679
$-¥ +0.27 or +0.19% to 139.64
€-¥ +0.17 or +0.11% to 149.09
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