Dec 16 ,2024
Synopsis
European equity markets set to open flat to lower. Note European equity markets pulled back last week, with STOXX 600 down (0.8%). Asian equities mixed Monday. China stocks decline after activity data underwhelmed (seen reinforcing need for stronger policy support). Main surprise was retail sales, up 3.0% y/y vs consensus 5.0%. Most categories declined, led by a spurious tumble in cosmetics.
European macro data releases out today include Eurozone, France, Germany, UK Dec flash manufacturing/services PMIs, Italy Nov final CPI, Switzerland Nov PPI, Norway Nov trade balance. Average asking prices for newly listed houses and apartments in Britain fell by (1.7%) in December, according to Rightmove.
Also today: Bundesbank monthly report pre-release at 12:00CET. ECB's Lagarde press conf at 8:00CET with Lithuania central bank's Šimkus ahead of conf, with Lagarde speech at 9:15 and panellist at 9:30. ECB's de Guindos speaks at 9:30CET at the 8th annv. of Madrid Foro Empresarial, Belgium central bank's Wunsch speech at 13:00CET with release of bank's economic projections and ECB's Schnabel speech at 17:30CET and former Governor of the Bank of Spain de Cos panellist at 16:15 at CEPR Paris Symposium. Bank of Italy hosts workshop on the economic implications of climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy (through Tue). ECB publishes at 10:00CET its latest survey of monetary analysts.
In politics, this afternoon German Chancellor Scholz is expected to lose vote of confidence in the German parliament's lower house (Politico), and if this proves the case, he'll propose to the Federal President that the Bundestag be dissolved. (Welt )
Elsewhere, EU Foreign Affairs Council meets, as do EU energy ministers. EU's Roswell speech at 13:00CET at bruegel hosted event 'Towards a circular single market: Strengthening EU economic security and competitiveness'. Conf. de Paris (through Tue), speakers include CEO's of BHP (BHP.LN), Maersk (MAERSK.B.DC) and Renault (RNO.FP).
First day of trading of Havas (HAVAS.NA), Louis Hachette (ALHG.FP) and Canal+ (CAN.LN).
Macro/politics
ECB
France
Moody's Ratings downgrades France's ratings to Aa3; changes outlook to stable -- link
Germany
Scholz faces confidence vote. It's expected to lead to an election in February -- AP
UK
UK manufacturing confidence slumps after Rachel Reeves' Budget -- FT
Treasury insists on no spring Budget despite fears of fiscal rule breach -- FT
UK Inflation May Be Overstated by Official Data, Academics Say -- Bloomberg
UK property asking prices fall, headwinds remain for 2025, Rightmove says -- Reuters
Top company news
Earnings/updates
NOVO.B.DC (Novo Nordisk) -- Follow-up: Novo Nordisk discloses the acquisition of Catalent, and the related acquisition of three manufacturing sites from Novo Holdings, is cleared to close
KESKOB.FH (Kesko) -- reports Nov sales €1.01B, (2.4%) in comparable terms
PAH3.GR (Porsche Automobil Holding SE) -- Porsche Automobil Holding expects impairment of at-equity carrying amounts of Volkswagen AG and Porsche AG investments; withdraws earnings guidance
Also reporting today
Earnings: OVS (OVS.IM), Admie Holdings (ADMIE.GA), All for One Group (A1OS.GR)
Trading Update: Videndum (VID.LN)
CMD/events: Qiagen (QIA.GR), AB Science (AB.FP)
M&A
ALV.GR (Allianz) -- scraps proposed €1.5B acquisition of 51% stake in Income Insurance Ltd due to public opposition to the deal - Reuters
NHH.SM (Minor Hotels Europe & Americas) -- received offer from majority shareholder informing of its intention to make a delisting takeover bid at €6.37 per share
ABLI.SS (Abliva) -- board unanimously recommends holders accept offer from Pharming
NOVO.B.DC (Novo Nordisk) -- discloses the acquisition of Catalent, and the related acquisition of three manufacturing sites from Novo Holdings, is cleared to close
NOVO.B.DC (Novo Nordisk) -- Follow-up: Novo Nordisk discloses the acquisition of Catalent, and the related acquisition of three manufacturing sites from Novo Holdings, is cleared to close
DEC.FP (JCDecaux) -- and JOJ Media House Group decide not to pursue the merger of their OOH activities in Slovakia
IDS.LN (International Distribution Services) -- UK government to OK Daniel Kretinsky's offer for International Distribution Services - FT
VNA.GR (Vonovia) -- and Deutsche Wohnen SE agree on conclusion of domination and profit and loss transfer agreement
AOX.GR (Alstria) -- receives confirmation and specification of the squeeze-out demand submitted by BPG Holdings
ABLI.SS (Abliva) -- Pharming announces ~$66.1M public cash offer to the shareholders of Abliva AB
XLS.SW (Xlife Sciences) -- announces the intended listing of VERAXA biotech Ag on the NASDAQ stock exchange in the 2025 fiscal year
Berkshire Hills and Brookline in merger talks - media reports
Healthcare
GALD.SW (Galderma Group) -- FDA approves Nemluvio for adults and pediatric patients 12 and older with atopic dermatitis
EFYA.GR (PharmaCyte Biotech) -- SEC filing: 10-Q
RLF.SW (RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding) -- announces filing of form 15F to terminate SEC reporting obligations
Other
HSBA.LN (HSBC Holdings) -- ASIC sues HSBC alleging failures to adequately protect customers from scams
KBC.BB (KBC Group) -- discloses ECB determination for SREP capital requirement for 2025; Group's fully loaded CET1 ratio well above the new requirement
IDR.SM (Indra Sistemas) -- completes share buyback program
AIG leads launch of Syndicate 2478 at Lloyd's through multi-year Blackstone strategic relationship
Arcadium Lithium discloses litigation related to pending acquisition by with Rio Tinto - 8-K
Estimated weekend box office revenues in US, Canada $91.5M, +20.5% y/y - Box Office Mojo
Havas' technical reference price per share set at €1.79
Louis Hachette Group's technical reference price per share set at €1.12
Nissan-Mercedes joint venture in Mexico to cut production by ~50% due to slowing Infiniti sales in the U.S. - Nikkei (earlier)
Key rating changes
Upgrades
Deutsche Numis transfers DNLM.LN, VIC.LN, WIX.LN
GLEN.LN (Glencore) -- to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital Markets
DKSH.SW (DKSH Holding) -- to outperform from neutral at BNP Paribas Exane
RAND.NA (Randstad) -- to outperform from neutral at BNP Paribas Exane
VIRI.FP (Viridien) -- to market perform from underperform at Bernstein
BNZL.LN (Bunzl) -- to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital Markets
Downgrades
SAP.GR (SAP) -- to hold from buy at HSBC
YOU.GR (ABOUT YOU Holding) -- to hold from buy at Jefferies
PAGE.LN (PageGroup) -- to neutral from outperform at BNP Paribas Exane
8TRA.SS (TRATON) -- to hold from buy at Pareto
DCC.LN (DCC) -- to sector perform from outperform at RBC Capital Markets
DPLM.LN (Diploma) -- to underperform from sector perform at RBC Capital Markets
Data
Nikkei (0.03%) to 39457.49
Hang Seng (1.15%) to 19740.87
Shanghai Composite (0.38%) to 3378.98
S&P futures +3.3 vs prior close of 6055.5
€-$ +0.0022 or +0.21% to 1.0513
$-¥ (0.09) or (0.06%) to 153.62
€-¥ +0.24 or +0.15% to 161.49
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