Apr 04 ,2024
Synopsis
European equity markets are set to open flat amidst Asian equities higher Thursday. Markets in Japan, Korea and Australia all logging gains as S&P 500 futures advance afterhours. Greater China markets closed for Qinming Festival/Tomb Sweeping Day. Dollar steady after retreating following ISM services. Copper leading commodity market gains. Gold holding near record high while crude little changed near late-Oct 2023 high. Bitcoin range bound.
On today's agenda, EU's Vestager, Dombrovskis and Breton participate in a fireside chat in the margins of the 6th Ministerial Meeting of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council meeting. EU's Jourová speaks at the conf 'Czechia in the EU: Next 20 years' and EU's Simson in Sydney (though Fri) and delivers a speech at the roundtable discussion event of the European Australian Business Council. In addition, discussion at 15:00BST on European reinsurers (Fitch Ratings)
In central banks updates, Riksbanks MPC meeting minutes at 9:30CET. ECB MPC meeting minutes at 13:30CET, the same time as Riksbank's Bunge speaks at a seminar organised by the Swedish Corporate Institute and OECD. Italy Central Bank co-hosts event (through Fri) title Financial Stability and Regulation.
Macroeconomic releases include: Italy, Spain Mar services PMIs with final reads for Eurozone, France, Germany and UK, Switzerland Mar CPI, Spain Mar unemployment change, Eurozone Feb PPI and Ireland Mar unemployment rate.
In corporate news, Solutions 30 (S30.FP) and Synergie (SDG.FP) both released their respective FY earnings yesterday after the EU close. In the DACH region, GRENKE (GLJ.GR) reported this morning a trading update for Q1 including new leasing business of €669.8M vs year-ago €610.2M. lastminute.com (LMN.SW) posted final FY earnings in line with preliminary release.
On M&A front, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain (SGO.FP) announced yesterday after the close the signing a definitive agreement to acquire the Bailey Group Companies for ~ €600M in cash. In corporate events, HENSOLDT (HAG.GR) hosting conf call today at 14:00 CEST on its completed acquisition of ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH.
In other corporate developments, Saab's (SAAB.B.SS) CFO and Deputy CEO Christian Luiga to leave the company in order to pursue a new opportunity at a global company in a different industry segment.
Politics/Macro
Top company news
Earnings/updates
CYAD.BB (Celyad Oncology) -- reports FY net income (€8.5M) vs year-ago (€40.9M)
RDC.GR (Redcare Pharmacy) -- reports preliminary Q1 revenue €560M vs year-ago €372M
S30.FP (Solutions 30) -- reports FY net income (€22.7M) vs year-ago (€50.1M)
SDG.FP (Synergie) -- reports FY net income €78.6M vs year-ago €88.2M
LMN.SW (lastminute.com) -- reports final FY earnings in line with prelim. release; net income attributable €7.0M vs FactSet €3.9M [1 est]
GLJ.GR (GRENKE) -- reports Q1 new leasing business of €669.8M vs year-ago €610.2M
ALMDG.FP (MGI Digital Graphic Technology) -- reports FY net income €8.2M vs FactSet €7.5M [1 est]
M&A
OR.FP (L'Oreal) -- exploring purchase of minority stake in Amouage - Bloomberg
RF.FP (Eurazeo) -- completes the sale of Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center to Carl Zeiss Meditec
SGO.FP (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain) -- signs a definitive agreement to acquire the Bailey Group Companies for ~ €600M in cash
DEMANT.DC (Demant) -- ACCC will not oppose revised Cochlear, Oticon Medical transaction
SRG.IM (Snam) -- exercises its pre-emptive right to increase from 7.3% to 30%, its stake in Adriatic LNG regasification terminal
APPS.SM (Applus Services) -- releases its board's reports on offers by Amber EquityCo and Manzana Spain Bidco's
US.IM (UnipolSai Assicurazioni) -- UnipolSai Assicurazioni's board deemed fair, from a financial point of view, the €2.70/share cum dividend offer from Unipol Gruppo
MTW.LN (Mattioli Woods) -- completes acquisition of Newable Ventures Limited by Maven Capital Partners UK
Healthcare
SAN.FP (Sanofi) -- reportedly settles Zantac cases in 5 states - Bloomberg
UCB.BB (UCB) -- UCB's supplemental Biologics License Applications for BIMZELX (bimekizumab-bkzx) for moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa and additional 2ML device presentations accepted by FDA
BSLN.SW (Basilea Pharmaceutica) -- FDA grants approval of Zevtera to Basilea Pharmaceutica for the treatment of adults with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections
AB.FP (AB Science) -- announces that Health Canada has granted eligibility for reconsideration request for masitinib in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
MED.SW (Medartis Holding) -- launches senior convertible bond offering via accelerated bookbuild through BofA
BSLN.SW (Basilea Pharmaceutica) -- confirms FDA granted approval of Zevtera for three indications
Other
TIT.IM (Telecom Italia) -- Rome Court of Appeal has settled in favor of Telecom Italia a 15-year dispute concerning the restitution of the license fee claimed for 1998
VK.FP (Vallourec) -- enters partnership with Maire Tecnimont's NextChem for hydrogen storage
ABDN.LN (abrdn Plc) -- Proxy adviser Glass Lewis urges abrdn shareholders to vote against remuneration report, criticising incoming CFO's salary - FT
SOLB.BB (Solvay) -- mentioned positively by Greenlight Capital's David Einhorn at Sohn Conference
DNO.NO (DNO ASA) -- DNO Kurdistan Operations Recover Rapidly from Torrential Flooding
MED.SW (Medartis Holding) -- successfully places CHF115.8M convertible bonds due 2031
Key rating changes
Upgrades
LLOY.LN (Lloyds Banking Goup) -- to outperform from market perform at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods
NWG.LN (NatWest Group) - to market perform from underperform at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods
PAGE.LN (PageGroup) -- to buy from neutral at UBS
PST.IM (Poste Italiane) -- to buy from neutral at UBS
EDV.GR (CTS Eventim) -- to buy from hold at Kepler Cheuvreux
Downgrades
RACE.IM (Ferrari) -- to equal weight from overweight at Barclays
HOLN.SW (Holcim) -- to hold from buy at HSBC
ARJO.B.SS (Arjo) -- Arjo long-term recommendation downgraded to market perform from outperform at Handelsbanken
GIVN.SW (Givaudan) -- to reduce from add at Baader Helvea
Other Actions
PINE.LN (Pinewood Technologies Group) -- resumed buy at Jefferies
Data
Nikkei +1.00% to 39845.68
Hang Seng +0.00% to 16725.10
Shanghai Composite +0.00% to 3069.30
S&P futures +11.3 vs prior close of 5266.5
€-$ +0.0013 or +0.12% to 1.0847
$-¥ (0.02) or (0.01%) to 151.66
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