Jun 19 ,2025
Synopsis
European equity markets are set to open in negative territory amid Asian equities trading lower Thursday with focus still largely Middle East. Losses picking up on benchmarks with Greater China, Taiwan and Japan leading declines. Korea seeing milder decline while Australia flat. S&P 500 futures retreating afterhours (US closed Thursday for holiday). JGB yields down 1-2 bp while Aussie curve bull flattening following soft jobs data. Dollar strongest against kiwi and Aussie, up slightly against majors. Crude fluctuating amid latest volley of Middle East headlines. Gold pulling back from earlier highs. Bitcoin remains rangebound.
Geopolitical developments in focus. President Trump held another National Security Council meeting on Wednesday after earlier saying he had idea on how to proceed but no decision made yet. Media sources noted Trump has approved plans for strike on Iran, which may happen in coming days. However, Trump waiting to see if Tehran abandons nuclear program and said to be mindful about being drawn into prolonged conflict. Prospects for diplomatic outcome remain unclear with Iran's foreign minister to hold talks with EU on Friday, while Trump said he is not looking for ceasefire but total victory.
In central banks updates, SNB publishes its latest Financial Stability Report at 6:30CET with interest rate decision (and news conf) at 9:30, a cut of (25bps) to 0.0% expected. Of interest, will they signal willingness to go negative rates again after June with negative inflation readings. ECB's Lagarde speeches at 9:30CET and 12:30 at conf. organised by the central banks of Poland and Ukraine (Lithuania central bank's Šimkus panellist at 13:15). Norges Bank interest rate decision at 10:00CET, with no change to 4.5% benchmark interest rate expected. ECB's Buch fireside chat at 10:30 at event hosted by Univ. of Amsterdam, the same time as Bank of France's Villeroy speaks at event at European Univ. Institute in Florence. BOE interest rate decision (Monetary Policy Summary and minutes of the MPC meeting) at 12noon BST. The expectation is for no change in the 4.25% benchmark interest rate. Bundesbank's Nagel speaks/interview/Q&A at 11:00CET and ECB's de Guindos 11:45 at OPGE conf. Bank of Italy's Signorini speech at 11:30CET at event hosted by IVASS. Turkey central bank interest rate decision at 12:00BST. A (200bps) cut to 44% in the benchmark interest rate is expected. ECB's Lagarde remarks at 18:00CET at Financi'Elles event. Denmark's central bank hosts conf on climate change and green transition - consequences for the financial sector. Eurogroup meeting takes place, ECB's Cipollone among the participants, and EU social policy council meets.
Macroeconomic updates include: Switzerland May trade balance (monthly watch data), Eurozone Apr construction output, Netherlands May unemployment rat
Amidst light earnings calendar, Addex Therapeutics (ADXN.SW) posted Q1 earnings whilst SkiStar (SKIS.B.SS) released Q3 numbers. In the UK, PS Pensions Group (XPS.LN) and NCC Group (NCC.LN) are due to report their latest numbers. Whitbread (WTB.LN) to issue Q1 trading update. On M&A front, people familiar with the process told the FT that Barclays (BARC.LN) and Santander (SAN.SM) are thinking about buying Sabadell's UK unit (SAB.SM).
CMD/events: United Utilities Group (UU.LN)
Politics/Macro/World News
Trump approved attack plans for Iran - but hasn't made final decision to strike - CBS News
EU devises scheme to squeeze more profit from Russian frozen assets - Politico
Why the EU's migration dilemma is pushing the bloc further right - FT
Hungary discussing business deal with US to counter tariff impact - Bloomberg
Netherlands May Unemployment Rate 3.8% vs consensus 3.7% and prior 3.8%
Top company news
Earnings/updates
ADXN.SW (Addex Therapeutics) -- reports Q1 net loss (CHF1.5M) vs year-ago (CHF3.1M)
SKIS.B.SS (SkiStar) -- reports Q3 EPS SEK3.82 vs FactSet SEK3.96 [4 est, SEK3.46-4.64]
M&A
MT.NA (ArcelorMittal) -- completes acquisition of Nippon Steel's interest in AM/NS Calvert
SGO.FP (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain) -- acquires Maturix in Denmark; terms undisclosed
STERV.FH (Stora Enso) -- initiates strategic review of Swedish forest assets
SAAB.B.SS (Saab) -- signs a joint declaration of intent with Direction générale de l'armement regarding the sale of Saab's GlobalEye Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to France
SAB.SM (Banco de Sabadell) -- NatWest chooses not to bid for TSB - FT
CVC.NA (CVC Capital Partners) -- to finance Jersey Telecom's £500M bid to acquire Manx Telecom - Sky News
KTN.GR (Kontron) -- signs term sheet with congatec; congatec to acquire a majority stake in subsidiary JUMPtec
EVN.AV (EVN AG) -- and STRABAG sign transaction agreements for the sale of the international project business
MULTI.NO (Multiconsult) -- signs intends to acquire the ViaNova group for a transaction valued at NOK 300M on a debt and cash-free basis
REVB.LN (Revolution Beauty Group) -- Frasers no longer interested in Revolution Beauty Group - Telegraph
MAU.FP (Maurel et Prom)-- agrees to jointly acquire additional interests in Blocks 3/05 and 3/05A in Angola
Healthcare
ROG.SW (Roche Holding) -- NICE recommends Genentech's Tecentriq for adjuvant treatment of resected NSCLC
GLPG.NA (Galapagos) -- presents new data from cohort 3 of ATALANTA-1 for GLPG5101 in relapsed/refractory indolent NHL patients at ICML 2025
ZEAL.DC (Zealand Pharma) -- announces positive topline results from 28-week Phase 1B trial with GLP-1/GLP-2 receptor dual agonist dapiglutide
INDV.LN (Indivior) -- SEC filing: SCHEDULE 13D/A (Filed by Two Seas Capital LP)
DIM.FP (Sartorius Stedim Biotech) -- Chairman Joachim Kreuzburg resigns; Michael Grosse appointed as successor
HNSA.SS (Hansa Biopharma) -- 10.6M-directed-share issue priced at SEK22 per share through DNB and Jefferies
Other
ML.FP (Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SA) -- Michelin publishes global tire market data for May
ETL.FP (Eutelsat Communications) -- Eutelsat and France's Armed Forces Ministry reach framework agreement for low orbit satellite services for NEXUS Program
TGS.NO (TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co.) -- TGS and Viridien announce launch of Laconia phase III OBN survey in the Gulf of America
KAMBI.SS (Kambi Group) -- initiates SEK 165M share repurchase program
AIR.FP (Airbus SE) -- STARLUX Airlines signs a firm order for the purchase of ten additional A350-1000 aircraft (18-Jun)
NESN.SW (Nestle) -- chair Paul Bulcke to not stand for re-election
AVOL.SW (Avolta) -- announces 9-year contract extension with Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte (OMA)
Key rating changes
Upgrades
MTX.GR (MTU Aero Engines) -- to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank
ETL.FP (Eutelsat Communications) -- to neutral from underperform at Oddo
Downgrades
PGHN.SW (Partners Group Holding) -- to neutral from buy at Goldman Sachs
AKSO.NO (Aker Solutions) -- to sell from hold at DNB Carnegie
Initiations
TKA.AV (Telekom Austria) -- hold at Deutsche Bank
SAA.LN (M&C Saatchi) -- buy at Berenberg
Data
Nikkei (0.89%) to 38540.54
Hang Seng (1.70%) to 23308.79
Shanghai Composite (0.66%) to 3366.37
S&P futures (12.8) vs prior close of 6034.3
€-$ (0.0023) or (0.20%) to 1.1461
$-¥ +0.03 or +0.02% to 145.16
€-¥ (0.27) or (0.16%) to 166.34
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