Jan 06 ,2025
Synopsis
European equity markets set to open mostly higher (UK's FTSE 100 indicated flat). Last week, European equity markets posted a mixed performance in a holiday-shortened week with few notable developments. STOXX 600 was up just 0.20%, following choppy performance in Dec-2024 and the worst quarterly performance in nearly two years.
Asia equities trading mixed Monday. A very strong day in Taiwan and South Korea as tech stocks jump sharply. Japan stocks lagging. China services activity expands at fastest pace in seven months.
In Europe, still relatively quiet but newsflow likely to pick up in the latter part of the week with earnings/updates due from the likes of Sika (SIKA.SW), Tesco (TSCO.LN), Next (NXT.LN), Danske Bank (DANSKE.DC), Sodexo (SW.FP) and Volvo Car (VOLCAR.B.SS).
Focus on Austria political landscape with the country headed for fresh coalition talks led by the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) after efforts to form a centrist government without the FPO fell apart and prompted Chancellor Karl Nehammer to resign. Nehammer's successor, Christian Stocker, is open to negotiating with the FPÖ. Today, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl is scheduled to meet with Austria's president, Alexander Van der Bellen.
Note that Sweden, Greece and Finland are closed today for the Epiphany holiday (with bank holidays in several other countries though stock markets remain open). In USA, NYSE and NASDAQ to close on Thu to honor Jimmy Carter.
European macro data releases out today include Germany prelim Dec CPI, Switzerland Nov Retail Sales, Sweden/Spain/Italy/France/Germany/Eurozone/UK Dec Services PMI, Eurozone Jan Sentix Investor Confidence, Portugal Nov Unemployment Rate, Netherlands Nov retail sales. Also Germany and UK Dec new car registrations.
In central banks, the first of the ECB Economic Bulletin pre-releases at 10:00CET. In UK, MPs return after Christmas Recess and begin with questions on defence, and parliament will debate a petition to call a General Election.
Macro/politics
ECB has been too slow to cut rates, Eurozone economists warn -- FT, citing poll
UK business morale hits two-year low after tax rises, survey shows -- Reuters, citing BCC
Austrian Far Right Leader Kickl Gets Chance to Form Government -- Bloomberg
Austria's president to meet far-right leader amid coalition speculation -- Guardian
Italy Plans $1.6 Billion SpaceX Telecom Security Services Deal -- Bloomberg
China's PBOC Vows More Support for Innovation and Consumption -- Bloomberg
Top company news
Earnings/updates
STLAM.IM (Stellantis) -- FCA US reports Q4 sales of 320,743 vehicles, (7%) y/y
VOW3.GR (Volkswagen) -- of America reports Q4 sales 103,194; +7.0% y/y
AI.FP (Air Liquide) -- announces availability of pre-FY 2024 results communication
BAKKA.NO (Bakkafrost) -- reports Q4 harvest volumes 20.4Kt vs prior 27.0Kt
M&A
MUX.GR (Mutares SE & Co KGaA) -- Iveco Group transfers full ownership of Magirus to Mutares; deal was announced 13-Mar
URW.FP (URW) -- sells 15% stake in Westfield Forum des Halles to CDC Investissement Immobilier for €235M
EXA.FP (Exail Technologies) -- acquires Leukos, a company specializing in lasers, including supercontinuum lasers. Terms were not disclosed
Databricks, Snowflake spoke (separately) about acquiring AI search startup Voyage - The Information
Healthcare
NOVO.B.DC (Novo Nordisk) -- FDA publishes Citizen Petition seeking to restrict compounded liraglutide (2-Jan)
NOVO.B.DC (Novo Nordisk) -- sponsored UK pharmacies to boost sales of Wegovy, Saxenda - Observer
SANN.SW (Santhera Pharmaceuticals Holding) -- Santhera enters into supply and distribution agreement for AGAMREE (Vamorolone) with Clinigen Group
Other
GALP.PL (Galp Energia SGPS) -- Galp Energia ethics committee investigating complaint about CEO Filipe Silva - ECO
TGS.NO (TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co.) -- TGS Announces Dawson III 3D Seismic Survey in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin
Estimated weekend box office revenues in US, Canada $103.7M, +20.7% y/y - Box Office Mojo
XPeng, Volkswagen enter MOU to jointly build super-fast charging network in China
Key rating changes
Upgrades
Jefferies upgrades ENQ.LN, IPCO.SS
RMS.FP (Hermes) -- to buy from hold at Stifel
SXS.LN (Spectris) -- to buy from hold at HSBC
RXL.FP (Rexel) -- to outperform from market perform at Bernstein
SAND.SS (Sandvik) -- to market perform from underperform at Bernstein
AKRBP.NO (Aker BP) -- to buy from hold at SEB
CURY.LN (Currys) -- to neutral from underperform at BNP Paribas Exane
Downgrades
EQNR.NO (Equinor) -- to neutral from buy at Sparebank 1 Markets
RBREW.DC (Royal Unibrew) -- to equal weight from overweight at Barclays
LIGHT.NA (Signify) -- to market perform from outperform at Bernstein
NEX.FP (Nexans) -- to market perform from outperform at Bernstein
ABBN.SW (ABB Limited) -- to underperform from market perform at Bernstein
EPI.A.SS (Epiroc) -- to underperform from outperform;at Bernstein
QIA.GR (Qiagen) -- to equal-weight from overweight at Morgan Stanley
Jefferies downgrades ENOG.IT, ENOG.LN; others
Data
Nikkei (1.47%) to 39307.05
Hang Seng (0.48%) to 19666.18
Shanghai Composite (0.27%) to 3202.64
S&P futures +5.5 vs prior close of 5989.5
€-$ +0.0007 or +0.07% to 1.0312
$-¥ +0.43 or +0.27% to 157.65
€-¥ +0.55 or +0.34% to 162.57
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