Oct 09 ,2023
Synopsis
European equity markets are set to open mixed with focus on developments in Israel. Crude up ~3-4% and haven flows underpinning strength in bonds and precious metals. Big weekend development was Hamas launching surprise attack against Israel that was deadliest since Yom Kippur war 50-years ago. Israeli retaliation comes as country officially declared war and vowed to dismantle Hamas' military infrastructure, setting stage for a potentially long and difficult conflict. Press have highlighted risk of wider conflict after Hezbollah and Israel traded fire at Israel's northern border while separates reports noted Iran helped Hamas plan attacks.
Hamas' attack adds fresh uncertainty for markets following weeks of volatility driven by a surge in bond yields. Markets have typically looked past previous geopolitical skirmishes, though key concern revolves around potential for a a wider conflict that draws in major oil producing nations and threatens supplies
In Europe, focus on election news (see below), including German regional elections (Bavaria and Hesse) that showed all three parties in the federal coalition government are on track to lose support in both states, while the far-right AfD made further gains in the two states. In Hesse, the CDU achieved a landslide victory in the state elections.
Today's agenda sees start of the annual meeting of the IMF/World Bank (thru Sun), ECB's Lagarde and Panetta participating. Also up today: Bank of Portugal's Centeno speech at 8:15CET at conf with members from the Central Banks of Portuguese-speaking countries. ECB's de Guindos speech at 10:00CET at event organised by Diario Expansion. Netherlands Central Bank's Knot speech at 11:00CET with presentation of the bi-annual financial stability report. ECB's Enria participates at 11:15CET in event organised by CIRSF. BOE's Mann speech at 21:00BST at NABE Annual Meeting (Sun-Tue). Germany's Chancellor Scholz hosts France's President Macron for latest French-German Council of Ministers meeting (thru Tue). Bulgaria's PM hosts PMs of Greece, Moldova and Romania to discuss migration, EU's Schinas also attending. EU's Simson panellist at 16:40CET at event hosted by Politico
Macro data releases include Germany Aug industrial production, Eurozone Oct Sentix investor confidence, Denmark Aug trade balance
On the corporate front this morning, focus on Metro Bank (MTRO.LN) as it agrees to financing package with investors including Jaime Gilinski Bacal; after many developments over the weekend. Metro secured £325M capital raise, comprising £150M of new equity and £175M of new MREL issuance, alongside £600M of debt refinancing. The Times notes while the funding deal shores up the troubled lender, it inflicts pain on its investors and leaves the group shouldering expensive borrowing costs. Notes shareholders will be heavily diluted by the £150M equity-raising, which is being priced at 30p
In notable M&A, Schaeffler (SHA.GR) offers to acquire Vitesco Technologies Group (VTSC.GR) for €91/share in cash
Macro/politics
Israel
German regional elections
Luxembourg elections
Government booted out as voters punish Greens - Luxembourg Times
Luxembourg election delivers likely return to power for conservative CSV party - Guardian
Greece local elections
Local elections confirm ND's dominance; few runoff challenges from fragmented opposition - ekathimerini
ECB
ECB's Lagarde: confident over 2% inflation target and Europe's winter gas situation - Reuters
Spain
Tens of thousands protest against possible Catalan amnesty deal - Reuters
Italy
Italy's central bank governor Visco urges Giorgia Meloni to heed investors' debt fears - FT
Top company news
Earnings/updates
TGS.NO (TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co.) -- reports preliminary Q3 revenue $225M vs FactSet $253.4M [7 est, $201.0-280.7M]
MTRO.LN (Metro Bank Holdings) -- agrees to fnancing package with investors including Jaime Gilinski Bacal
EMGS.NO (Electromagnetic Geoservices) -- provides Q3 update
Also reporting today
Earnings: Sareum Holdings (SAR.LN)
Trading Update/Sales: OMV (OMV.AV), MDxHealth (MDXH.BB), Kid (KID.NO)
CMD/events: Koenig & Bauer (SKB.GR)
M&A
MRTX (Mirati Therapeutics) -- Bristol Myers Squibb to acquire Mirati for $58.00/sh
VTSC.GR (Vitesco Technologies Group) -- Schaeffler offers to acquire Vitesco Technologies Group for €91/share in cash
VOD.LN (Vodafone Group) -- JB Capital working with Apollo on bid for Vodafone Spain - Expansion, citing sources familiar with the situation
FME.GR (Fresenius Medical Care) -- Ramsay Health Care submits first-round offer for Cura Day Hospitals - Australian Financial Review
TIT.IM (Telecom Italia) -- Italian Treasury keen to implement plan agreed with KKR to bid for Telecom Italia's NetCo - Reuters, citing source with knowledge of the matter
EQT.SS (EQT AB) -- to acquire Australian veterinary chain VetPartners for more than A$1B (~€600M) - Australian Financial Review
MTRO.LN (Metro Bank Holdings) -- agrees to fnancing package with investors including Jaime Gilinski Bacal
PDG.LN (Pendragon) -- AutoNation considering raising offer for Pendragon - Sunday Times
BMPS.IM (Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena) -- Italy starts process to sell Banca Monte Paschi stake - Bloomberg
QLT.LN (Quilter) -- CEO doesn't see Quilter being bought - London Times (16:00 BST, 6-Oct)
RWI.LN (Renewi) -- Top-ten Renewi holders offer divided opinions on bid from Macquarie - Sunday Times
BLTG.LN (Blancco Technology Group) -- Francisco Partners further updates acceptance level for Blancco shares, now at 66.36% of existing share capital; extends "Day 60" deadline until 18-Oct
Healthcare
NOVN.SW (Novartis) -- FDA approves Novartis Cosentyx IV formulation in rheumatic diseases
UCB.BB (UCB) -- to Present New Bimekizumab Data in Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis at EADV 2023
ADXN.SW (Addex Therapeutics) -- to change ratio of ADS to ordinary shares to 1 to 120 from 1 to 6
EGTX.SS (Egetis Therapeutics) -- submits MAA for Emcitate for treatment of MCT8 deficiency to the EMA
Other
BMW.GR (Bayerische Motoren Werke) -- BMW planning to introduce direct sales model as it seeks to control prices - Handelsblatt
DTE.GR (Deutsche Telekom) -- wants to cut thousands of jobs - Handelsblatt, citing insiders
IAG.LN (International Consolidated Airlines Group) -- in talks for widebody-plane order - Bloomberg (12:06 ET/17:06 BST/18:06 CET)
VAR1.GR (VARTA) -- remains positive despite economic downturn slowing down restructuring measures - Handelsblatt
Estimated weekend box office revenues in US, Canada $73.6M, +24.7% y/y - Box Office Mojo
ESG
Saudi Aramco, Siemens to sign agreement to build pilot project for carbon capture and storage - Bloomberg
SBTi actions last week include net zero approvals for Qualcomm, Encavis (6-Oct)
Key rating changes
Upgrades
ERIC.B.SS (Ericsson) -- short-term recommendation upgraded to buy from hold at Handelsbanken
Jefferies upgrades CPG.LN, SW.FP
ATEA.NO (Atea) -- to buy from hold at Carnegie Securities
HPOL.B.SS (HEXPOL) -- to buy from hold at ABG Sundal Collier
HPOL.B.SS (HEXPOL) -- to buy from hold at Danske Bank
KCR.FH (Konecranes) -- to buy from hold at SEB
SAAB.B.SS (Saab) -- to buy from hold at SEB
Downgrades
BAS.GR (BASF SE) -- to market perform from outperform at Bernstein
Initiations
SDZ.SW (Sandoz Group) -- buy at Jefferies
JDG.LN (Judges Scientific) -- buy at Berenberg
Other Actions
ALFA.LN (Alfa Financial Software Holdings) -- reinstated overweight at Barclays; prior rating was overweight
Data
Nikkei +0.00% to 30994.67
Hang Seng +0.00% to 17485.98
Shanghai Composite (0.34%) to 3099.85
S&P futures (30.5) vs prior close of 4341.5
€-$ +0.0003 or +0.03% to 1.0556
$-¥ +0.08 or +0.05% to 149.19
€-¥ +0.12 or +0.08% to 157.48
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