Oct 06 ,2023
Synopsis
European equity markets are set to open higher amidst Asian equities mostly higher Friday. Hang Seng outperforming amid strong gains in property and tech stocks. Korean and Australian markets recording moderate gains while Japan slightly weaker. Mainland China remains closed for Golden Week holiday. S&P 500 futures flat afterhours.
No change in market narrative. Some stabilization in rates providing stocks with a modicum of support, though expectation is yields will continue to press higher as central banks keep policy restrictive for an extended period. ECB's Villeroy said late Thursday there was no justification for more rate hikes now.
US September payrolls report due at 8:30 ET. Headline payrolls expected to fall to 161.5K from August 187K print, which would be lowest since the Dec-20 268K net loss.
Macroeconomic releases due in Europe today include: Switzerland Sep unemployment rate, Germany Aug factory orders, France Aug trade balance, Italy Aug retail sales, UK Sep house price index - Halifax, Norway Aug manufacturing production, Denmark Aug manufacturing production, Austria Sep PPI
Also on today's European agenda, Informal European Council meeting. In UK, Green Party Conf (through Sun). Norway's Minister of Finance presents the State Budget 2024. EU's Simson delivers a keynote speech at the Comolake 2023 Next Generation Innovations EXPO Conf. Labour celebrates 'seismic' win in Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election - BBC; swing of 20% - Sky News
In central banks, BOE, Banque de France, IMF, OECD and Banca d'Italia workshop title International capital flows and financial policies. Central Bank of Cyprus' Herodotou speech at 7:45CET at Limassol Economic Forum. Russia central bank interest rate decision and Russia Sep new car sales.
Quiet earnings session, Repsol (REP.SM) issued a Q3 trading statement indicating an upstream production of 595 Kboe/d vs FactSet 596 Kboe/d and year-ago 549 Kboe/d. In Finland, Finnair published additional financial targets for its long-term outlook and decided to bring forward the release of its Q3 interim report. In Sweden, Clas Ohlson (CLA.B.SS) reported its September sale up by 6% to SEK762M.
In M&A, the FT reported that Metro Bank (MTRO.LN) is considering selling £2.3B of £7.5B mortgage book to raise funds and reduce regulatory capital requirements. People familiar with the matter say that Metro is gauging interest in the book from peers including Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.LN), NatWest (NWG.LN) and HSBC (HSBA.LN).
Politics/Macro/World News
Top company news
Earnings/updates
REP.SM (Repsol) -- Q3 trading statement: upstream production 595 Kboe/d vs FactSet 596 Kboe/d and year-ago 549 Kboe/d
FIA1S.FH (Finnair) -- planning rights issue of up to €600M; publishes additional financial targets and brings forward release of its Q3 2023 interim report
HAUTO.NO (Höegh Autoliners) -- reports Sep prorated transported cargo 1.3M CBM
FIA1S.FH (Finnair) -- planning rights issue of up to €600M; publishes additional financial targets and brings forward release of its Q3 2023 interim report
CLAS.B.SS (Clas Ohlson) -- reports September sales +6% to SEK 762M; in local currency +6%
M&A
MRTX (Mirati Therapeutics) -- Sanofi (SAN.FP) reportedly considering acquisition of Mirati Therapeutics -- Bloomberg
TRB.LN (Tribal Group) -- Ellucian offers to acquire Tribal Group for 74p per share in cash
BG (Bunge Ltd) -- Bunge shareholders approve previously announced Viterra combination
RI.FP (Pernod Ricard) -- considering sale of Czech liqueur brand Becherovka - Bloomberg (5-Oct, 16:18 CET)
TTE.FP (TotalEnergies) -- Follow-up: TotalEnergies considering sale of ~25% holding in Seagreen Wind Energy - Bloomberg
HLN.LN (Haleon) -- GSK intends to sell 270M ordinary shares in Haleon, equivalent to approximately 2.9% of Haleon's issued share capital.
MTRO.LN (Metro Bank Holdings) -- Metro Bank considering selling £2.3B of £7.5B mortgage book to raise funds and reduce regulatory capital requirements - FT
VAR.NO (Vår Energi) -- sells Brage assets as part of portfolio optimization
OpenAI looking at making its own AI chips, has evaluated potential target to buy - Reuters
Healthcare
PFE (Pfizer) -- FDA granted interchangeability to Pfizer's biosimilar of Humira (earlier)
Other
ENEL.IM (Enel) -- launches sustainability-linked share buyback program for up to 4.2M shares
ACA.FP (Credit Agricole) -- Crédit Agricole S.A. launches a Share Repurchase Program for up to 26.8M ordinary shares of the company
MTRO.LN (Metro Bank Holdings) -- looking at sale of part of its mortgage book, approaching potential interest parties - Sky News
ACC.NO (Aker Carbon Capture) -- awarded feasibility study for mineral production facilities in the United States
General Motors reportedly has built 20M+ vehicles with potentially faulty air-bag part -- media reports
Regional Gaming Revenues - New York Sports Betting September 2023
Key rating changes
Upgrades
ARYN.SW (Aryzta) -- to Buy from Add at Baader Helvea
BNZL.LN (Bunzl) -- to equal weight from underweight at Barclays
EMG.LN (Man Group) -- to outperform from neutral at BNP Paribas Exane
MAIRE.IM (Maire Tecnimont) -- to outperform from neutral at Mediobanca
PDX.SS (Paradox Interactive) -- to buy from hold at Carnegie Securities
RNO.FP (Renault) -- to equal weight from underweight at Barclays
UBSG.SW (UBS Group) -- to outperform from neutral at BNP Paribas Exane
VWS.DC (Vestas Wind Systems) -- to buy from hold at Danske Bank
WIZZ.LN (Wizz Air Holdings) -- to hold from reduce at HSBC
BZU.IM (Buzzi SpA) -- to buy from hold at HSBC
HEI.GR (Heidelberg Materials) -- to buy from hold at HSBC
BHP.LN (BHP Group) -- to neutral from sell at UBS
RIO.LN (Rio Tinto) -- to neutral from sell at UBS
VOE.AV (Voestalpine) -- to neutral from sell at UBS
PRY.IM (Prysmian) -- to outperform from neutral at Mediobanca
Downgrades
NHY.NO (Norsk Hydro) -- to Sell from Hold at Arctic Securities
WIZZ.LN (Wizz Air Holdings) -- to neutral from overweight at JPMorgan
DUST.SS (Dustin Group) -- to hold from buy at Kepler Cheuvreux
ERIC.B.SS (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson) -- to hold from buy at Nordea
NOKIA.FH (Nokia) -- to hold from buy at Nordea
Initiations
FNOX.SS (Fortnox) -- underweight at Morgan Stanley
Other Actions
MTRO.LN (Metro Bank Holdings) -- assumed underweight at Barclays
ARJO.B.SS (Arjo) -- resumed hold at Nordea
Data
Nikkei (0.03%) to 31065.16
Hang Seng +1.48% to 17468.83
Shanghai Composite +0.00% to 3110.48
S&P futures (5.8) vs prior close of 4290.8
€-$ (0.0015) or (0.14%) to 1.0538
$-¥ +0.35 or +0.23% to 148.84
€-¥ +0.16 or +0.10% to 156.84
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