Sep 21 ,2023
Synopsis
European equity markets are set to open lower amidst weaker session in Asia. S&P 500 futures extend losses afterhours. Hawkish Fed weighing on sentiment as regional benchmarks accumulate losses. Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Australia markets down at least 1%. Bond markets under pressure with Treasury curve bear steepening. Aussie yields also sharply higher. Dollar extending gains, strongest against Aussie, euro and sterling. Crude and metals tracking equity declines.
No surprise as FOMC left rates unchanged at 5.25-5.50%. Also as expected, median dot for 2023 continued to show one more rate hike. Median dot for 2024 jumped 50 bp to 5.10% and median dot for 2024 increased 50 bp to 3.9%, though the neutral rate estimate stayed at 2.5% despite some upside risk. Fed meeting and updated projections triggering hawkish reaction on markets with stocks under pressure, bond yields backing up and dollar extending move higher.
Attention in Europe to turn to central banks decisions. BoE policy decision is finely balanced after yesterday's weaker-than-forecast inflation data. Prior to the release, the consensus was for another 25 bp hike to take the Bank Rate to 5.50%, but the market is now pricing in less than 50% probability for a hike. Several sell-side economists that recently backed today's decision as probably the last in the rate hike cycle, are now calling for a pause and leave the door open for a hike in Nov. BoE is also due to announce its QT plan for the coming year. Forecasts are for the total rundown of the BoE balance sheet to increase from £80B this year to £95B.
It is widely expected that Norway's central bank will stick to its strategy with another 25bp rate hike today, taking the key policy rate to 4.25%. Analysts also believe the bank will leave optionality for one more rate hike this year, even though 4.25% is currently seen as peak-rate. Since June, most economic data has been in-line with the bank's projections. The only surprises come from the recent surge in Crude oil prices, and higher rates abroad, which may compel Norges Bank to leave room for one more hike. Expectations are for a further rate hike from Sweden's central bank as well, given the extensive weakness in the Swedish Krona (SEK). This would take rates to 4.00%. Focus may very well shift to the Nov policy decision, which analysts suggest may bring a further hike. Analysts see the policy rate peaking in Nov at 4.25%, and the first rate cut may come in Sept-24. SNB interest rate decision also due today with +25bp hike to 2% expected.
In macro releases scheduled for today Eurozone Flash Sep Consumer Confidence due at 15:00 BST, Spain Jul Trade Balance out at 9:00 BST, France Sep Business Confidence due at 7:45 BST.
Earnings releases are light; of note, Next (NXT.LN), JD Sports Fashion (JD.LN), DFS (DFS.LN), CVS Group (CVSG.LN) due to update investors out of the UK. Cegedim (CGM.FP), ALD (ALD.FP), Strix Group (KETL.LN) host CMD/Analyst Meetings today.
Politics/ Macro/World News
Top company news
Earnings/updates
ABI.BB (Anheuser-Busch InBev) -- says sales in US have stabilzed; Mexican unit continues to grow - Bloomberg
LONN.SW (Lonza Group) -- reconfirms outlook for 2023; to host CMD on 17-Oct
GNFT.FP (GENFIT) -- H1 net income (€20.9M) vs FactSet (€16.7M) [3 est, (€29.6)-(0.4M)]
VLA.FP (Valneva) -- H1 net income (€35.0M) vs year-ago (€171.5M)
QDT.FP (Quadient) -- H1 EPS €1.05 vs year-ago €0.75; confirms FY guidance
TNG.FP (Transgene) -- H1 net income (€15.9M) vs year-ago (€15.3M)
OVS.IM (OVS) -- H1 adj net income €33.7M ex-items, +6% vs year-ago €31.9M; increases share buyback by €20M
ALKAL.FP (Kalray) -- H1 net income (€3.0M) vs year-ago (€7.5M)
CGM.FP (Cegedim) -- H1 net income (€8.8M) vs year-ago (€4.9M)
GBT.FP (Guerbet) -- H1 net income €3.3M, +154% vs year-ago €1.3M
SHLTN.SW (SHL Telemedicine) -- H1 net income (CHF2.1M) vs year-ago CHF0.1M
BAI.NA (BenevolentAI) -- H1 normalised operating loss (£40.6M) vs year-ago (£51.4M)
M&A
CA.FP (Carrefour) -- announces acquisition of 47 supermarkets and convenience stores in Spain for enterprise value of €60M
IVA.FP (Inventiva) -- and Hepalys Pharma, Inc. announce exclusive licensing agreement to develop and commercialize lanifibranor in Japan and South Korea; has also exercised rights to own 30% of Hepalys
ARL.GR (Aareal Bank) -- Atlantic BidCo to submit cash delisting tender offer of €33.20 per outstanding shares in Aareal Bank
STSU.NO (Standard Supply) -- announces sale of the mid-sized PSV FS Balmoral for $9.5M
Healthcare
ORPHA.DC (Orphazyme) -- appoints Jakob Bendtsen as CEO, effective 1-Oct-23
Other
HSBA.LN (HSBC Holdings) -- to provide $1B in funding for climate startups - Reuters
SGO.FP (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain) -- signs 15y renewable PPA with TotalEnergies to supply N.American industrial sites
LSEG.LN (London Stock Exchange Group) -- London Stock Exchange rejects criticism that London's position as leading financial centre is slipping - FT
EXM.BB (Exmar NV) -- to examine Saverex NV's request to convene EGM and special general meeting
SBO.NO (Selvaag Bolig) -- to initiate a share buyback of up to 1M shares
BAI.NA (BenevolentAI) -- CEO Joanna Shields to step down
Key rating changes
Upgrades
ANE.SM (Corporación Acciona Energías Renovables) -- to buy from hold at SocGen
EDPR.PL (EDP Renovaveis) -- to buy from hold at SocGen
TUI.LN (TUI Group) -- to hold from underperform at Jefferies
ELIMP.NO (Elektroimportøren) -- to buy from hold at DnB Markets
Downgrades
OCDO.LN (Ocado Group) -- to underperform from neutral at BNP Paribas Exane
OUT1V.FH (Outokumpu) -- to hold from buy at Deutsche Bank
Initiations
CHEMM.DC (ChemoMetec) -- hold at Nordea
CGCBV.FH (Cargotec) -- buy at Nordea
BFSA.GR (Befesa) -- hold at Deutsche Bank
Other Actions
G.IM (Assicurazioni Generali) -- assumed outperform at BNP Paribas Exane
LSG.NO (Lerøy Seafood Group) -- transferred buy at Carnegie Securities; prior rating was hold
Data
Nikkei (1.25%) to 32609.51
Hang Seng (1.24%) to 17664.16
Shanghai Composite (0.65%) to 3088.49
S&P futures (12.3) vs prior close of 4447.0
€-$ (0.0027) or (0.25%) to 1.0635
$-¥ (0.00) or (0.00%) to 148.34
€-¥ (0.36) or (0.23%) to 157.77
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