Jan 29 ,2024
Synopsis
European equity markets set to open flat to lower after last week's gains when the Stoxx Europe 600 advanced 3.1%. Technology and Luxury were the star sector performers in big week for earnings.
Asian equities trading mostly higher Monday. Hang Seng extending last week's rebound on latest policy support headlines. China's security regulator to also bar lending of restricted shares in latest attempt to stabilize markets.
This coming week in Europe sees a meeting of EU Leaders, interest rate decisions in Sweden and the UK, Q4 preliminary GDPs, Jan flash CPIs from across the region as well as earnings from heavyweights including ABB (ABBN.SW), Roche (ROG.SW), Novartis (NOVN.SW), BNP Paribas (BNP.FP), Sanofi (SAN.FP), Novo Nordisk (NOVO.B.DC), Diageo (DGE.LN), GSK (GSK.LN) and Shell (SHEL.LN)
Today's earnings newsflow sees Ryanair (RYA.ID) report weaker-than-expected Q3 eanrings and guide FY pretax income €1.85-1.95B vs prior guidance €1.85-2.05B and FactSet €2.18B. Philips (PHIA.NA) Q4 numbers lower than consensus at first glance. Wacker Chemie (WCH.GR) reports prelim FY net income €330M vs FactSet €309.7M; recovery in demand is currently not in view
Other stocks in focus: Holcim (HOLN.SW) announces its intent to list its North American business in the US with a full capital market separation. Holcim's board appoints Miljan Gutovic as CEO of Holcim, effective 1-May-24. Superdry (SDRY.LN) looking at radical restructuring options, reports Sky News. FT reports activist Bluebell pushing BP (BP.LN) to abandon clean-energy commitments. Bayer (BAYN.GR) shares may underperform this morning following a glyphosate trial loss on Friday with the largest award to date.
Focus on election outcomes in Germany and Finland. In Germany, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has suffered a narrow defeat in its first electoral test following the revelation of its involvement in a controversial mass deportation plan. AfD's candidate, Uwe Thrum, was narrowly beaten by CDU's Christian Herrgott in a district administrative election in Saale-Orla, Thuringia. The vote was seen as a broader barometer for the far-right's AfD popularity at a time when damaging headlines may have dented its alarming nationwide momentum. (DW, Guardian, FT). In Finland, the centre-right party came in ahead in the country's presidential election. Liberal Green party is a close second and goes through to second round, while far-right Finns have been knocked out (Guardian)
In central banks today: SNB's Jordan interviewed on SRF TV; ECB's de Guindos interviewed at 8:30CET on Spain's Radio Nacional and speaks at Investment Outlook conf organized by Citi at 14:10CET; Latvia Central Bank's Kaz�?ks interviewed on Latvian Television; ECB Survey of Monetary Analysts published at 10:00CET; BOE's Foulger keynote address at 11:20GMT at the DealCatalyst/AFME European Direct Lending & Middle Market Finance Conf.
Also on today's agenda: EU General Affairs Council and EU's von der Leyen participates in the Italy-Africa Summit in Rome. In UK, Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill continues its passage thru parliament, where committee topics include The UK's economic security (16:30GMT).
Macro data releases include Sweden Q4 preliminary GDP, Dec retail sales, Belgium Q4 preliminary GDP, Ireland Dec retail sales
arnings:
Politics/Macro/World News
EU
Germany
CDU's Christian Herrgott beats out far-right AfD candidate Uwe Thrum in regional run-off election in German state of Thuringia - Deutsche Welle
Finland
Centre-right party ahead in Finnish presidential election; Liberal Green party a close second and goes through to second round - Guardian
UK
Bank of England set to hold rates despite improving inflation backdrop - FT
UK Job Vacancies Fall by Most in Three Years in Sign Labor Market Is Cooling - Bloomberg, citing Adzuna
Tory Plotters Look to Farage's Reform UK to Speed Sunak's Ouster - Bloomberg
UK government to introduce legislation to ban the sale of disposable vapes
Top company news
Earnings/updates
WCH.GR (Wacker Chemie) -- reports prelim FY net income €330M vs FactSet €309.7M; recovery in demand is currently not in view
PHIA.NA (Koninklijke Philips) -- reports Q4 EPS €0.41 vs consensus €0.53;
RYA.ID (Ryanair Holdings) -- reports Q3 IFRS EPS €0.01 vs StreetAccount €0.05; narrows FY PBT guidance
ETL.FP (Eutelsat Communications) -- guides FY adj EBITDA €650M-€680M vs prior guidance €725M-€825M and FactSet €732.5M [7 est, €654.2-797.5M]
WDP.BB (Warehouses de Pauw) -- StreetAccount Earnings Call Q&A Summary: Warehouses de Pauw Q4
STM.GR (Stabilus) -- reports Q1 Adjusted EBIT €33.3M vs FactSet €34.3M [1 est]; Forecast for FY24 confirmed
INRN.SW (Interroll Holding) -- reports preliminary FY revenue CHF556.3M vs FactSet CHF568.8M
SMCP.FP (SMCP) -- expects FY performance slightly below previous announcement
KBCA.BB (KBC Ancora) -- reports H1 net income €72.8M, +2% vs year-ago €71.3M
M&A
APPS.SM (Applus) -- I Squared and TDR plan to raise offer for Applus - Expansion, citing sources
SRP.LN (Serco Group) -- American Industrial Partners approached Serco late in 2023 - Sky News
China to merge asset management firms Cinda, Orient, Great Wall into China Investment Corp - Xinhua
Healthcare
BAYN.GR (Bayer AG) -- Jury awards $2.25B to plaintiff who alleged Monsanto's Roundup caused his cancer in third bellwether trial in Philadelphia mass litigation -- Law360
GRF.SM (Grifols) -- files lawsuit against Gotham City Research and affiliates following recent short report
AB.FP (AB Science) -- announces an update in the marketing authorization application of masitinib in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at the European Medicines Agency
Other
BP.LN (BP) -- Bluebell pushing BP to abandon clean-energy commitments - FT
AIR.FP (Airbus SE) -- United CEO initiates discussions with Airbus due to Boeing delays - Reuters
NWG.LN (NatWest Group) --
UK government seeks City input for NatWest share sale, eyeing March announcement - Bloomberg
UK sale of NatWest Group shares seems likely to take place this summer - Sunday Times
HOLN.SW (Holcim)
intends to list its North American business in the US
Miljan Gutovic to become new CEO of Holcim; effective 1-May-24
SDRY.LN (Superdry) -- looking at radical restructuring options - Sky News
BAER.SW (Julius Baer Group) -- Julius Baer to write off at least CHF400M related to Signa - SonntagsZeitung
ATO.FP (ATOS) -- CEO tells managers about company's dealings with Daniel Kretinsky, Airbus - Challenges
Estimated weekend box office revenues in US, Canada $56.3M, (22.3%) y/y - Box Office Mojo
Key rating changes
Upgrades
PSM.GR (ProSiebenSat.1 Media) -- to overweight from equal weight at Barclays
ENG.SM (Enagas) -- to hold from sell at Mirabaud
ITRK.LN (Intertek Group) -- to buy from hold at Jefferies
NZYM.B.DC (Novozymes) -- to buy from hold at Jefferies
SCA.B.SS (Svenska Cellulosa) -- Svenska Cellulosa short-term recommendation upgraded to buy from hold at Handelsbanken
LONN.SW (Lonza Group) -- to sector perform from underperform at RBC Capital Markets
GBG.LN (GB Group) -- to add from hold at Peel Hunt
Downgrades
SEB.A.SS (Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken) -- to neutral from buy at UBS
SDR.LN (Schroders) -- to underperform from neutral at BNP Paribas Exane
ELISA.FH (Elisa Oyj) -- to hold from buy at ABG Sundal Collier
AZM.IM (Azimut Holding) -- to equal weight from overweight at Barclays
GJF.NO (Gjensidige Forsikring) -- to hold from buy at Jefferies
VOLCAR.B.SS (Volvo Car) -- to market perform from outperform at Bernstein
SQN.SW (Swissquote Group Holding) -- to hold from buy at Kepler Cheuvreux
CLA.B.SS (Cloetta) -- Cloetta short-term recommendations downgraded to hold from buy at Handelsbanken
SAX.GR (Ströer) -- to equal weight from overweight at Barclays
KGF.LN (Kingfisher) -- to sector perform from outperform at RBC Capital Markets
NTGY.SM (Naturgy) -- to sell from hold at Mirabaud
SRG.IM (Snam) -- to sector perform from outperform at RBC Capital Markets
Peel Hunt downgrades EQLS.LN, WISE.LN
Other Actions
CPR.IM (Davide Campari-Milano) -- resumed neutral at Mediobanca
Data
Nikkei +0.77% to 36026.94
Hang Seng +0.72% to 16067.59
Shanghai Composite (0.45%) to 2897.03
S&P futures (1.5) vs prior close of 4916.3
€-$ +0.0000 or +0.00% to 1.0847
$-¥ (0.23) or (0.15%) to 147.88
€-¥ (0.23) or (0.14%) to 160.40
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