Aug 18 ,2025
Synopsis
European equity markets are set for a positive open amidst mostly higher Asian equities Monday. Broad gains on Greater China and Japan benchmarks while Korea underperforming amid tech weakness. Taiwan marginally higher while Australia flat. S&P 500 futures gaining after US indexes logged another positive week.
President Trump is hosting a meeting in Washington DC with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, France's President Macron, Germany's Chancellor Merz, EU's von der Leyen and UK's PM Starmer. This follows the US President's debrief of EU leaders following his meeting with Russia's President Putin, as well as a meeting of the Coalition of the willing (a coalition of 31 countries which have pledged strengthened support for Ukraine against Russian aggression). The ceding of territory in the Ukraine to Russia, US/Europe security guarantees for Ukraine are topics that will be discussed at the meeting, as a ceasefire / resolution to the war in Ukraine is sought.
Macro data due include Spain and Eurozone Jun trade balance. UK Aug house price index - Rightmove already on the tape.
A very light earnings front sees Koskisen (KOSKI.FH) reporting Q2 EPS €0.21 vs FactSet €0.19 and keeping FY25 profit guidance unchanged.
Also due to report today are BATM Advanced Communications (BVC.LN) whilst Aeroports de Paris ADP (ADP.FP) is due to release traffic data.
Politics/Macro/World News
Top company news
Earnings
KOSKI.FH (Koskisen) -- reports Q2 EPS €0.21 vs FactSet €0.19 [3 est, €0.15-0.24]; keeps FY25 profit guidance unchanged
M&A
UBXN.SW (u-blox Holding) -- ZI Zenith launches public tender offer to acquire u-blox at CHF 135.00/sh in cash
2222.AB (Saudi Aramco) -- signs $11B lease and leaseback deal involving Jafurah gas processing facilities
AAL.LN (Anglo American) -- Peabody expected to seek arbitration over deal to acquire Anglo American's Queensland coal mines - The Australian
FPIP.SS (FormPipe Software) -- to divest its Public Sector business area for a total consideration of up to SEK 850M
Allgas Energy up for sale - The Australian
Healthcare
NOVN.SW (Novartis) -- to present 19 abstracts across its cardiovascular portfolio at ESC Congress
NOVO.B.DC (Novo Nordisk) -- Novo Nordisk's Wegovy approved in the US for the treatment of MASH
VLA.FP (Valneva) -- Valneva's Chikungunya Vaccine IXCHIQ Now Authorized in Canada for Individuals Aged 12 and Older
Other
WIZZ.LN (Wizz Air Holdings) -- Wizz Air remains committed to expansion and sees enormous growth potential in German market - FAZ
MBG.GR (Mercedes-Benz Group) -- Mercedes-Benz seeking to reduce manufacturing costs of new cars in China by €3,000 to €4,000 over next two to three years - Handelsblatt
EQT.SS (EQT AB) -- EQT holder Lennart Blecker (Chair of EQT Exeter) sold 5M shares on 15-Aug - Filing
TEG.GR (TAG Immobilien) -- plans to increase the dividend payout ratio to at least 50% of FFO I for FY26
Estimated weekend box office revenues in US, Canada $88.7M, (36.8%) y/y - Box Office Mojo
Via Transportation files to IPO on the NYSE under symbol "VIA" - S-1
Regional Gaming Revenues - New Jersey July 2025
Solar and wind energy related stocks trading higher; US Treasury Dept and IRS issues guidance for claiming federal tax subsidies for wind and solar energy projects
Key rating changes
Upgrades
AUTO.NO (AutoStore Holdings) -- to equal-weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley
DOCS.LN (Dr. Martens) -- to buy from add at Peel Hunt
Downgrades
AFISH.NO (Arctic Fish Holding) -- to hold from buy at Pareto
BAKKA.NO (Bakkafrost) -- to hold from buy at Pareto
CRST.LN Crest Nicholson Holdings) -- hold from buy at Stifel
CBG.LN (Close Brothers Group) -- sector perform from outperform at RBC Capital Markets
SGRO.LN (Segro) -- underweight from equal weight at Barclays
Initiations
BAB.LN (Babcock International Group) -- outperform at RBC Capital Markets
MF.FP (Wendel) -- neutral at Autonomous Research
CIRSA.SM (Cirsa Enterprises) --
outperform at Mediobanca
buy at UBS
overweight at Barclays
buy at Jefferies
Data
Nikkei +0.90% to 43769.67
Hang Seng +0.47% to 25389.65
Shanghai Composite +1.05% to 3735.73
S&P futures +6.8 vs prior close of 6471.5
€-$ (0.0006) or (0.05%) to 1.1707
$-¥ +0.17 or +0.11% to 147.38
€-¥ +0.15 or +0.09% to 172.55
This information and data is provided for general informational purposes only. The Bank of New York Mellon and our information suppliers do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, timeliness or completeness of this information or data. We provide no advice nor recommendation or endorsement with respect to any company or securities. We do not undertake any obligation to update or amend this information or data. Nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities.
Please refer to "Terms Of Use".
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS:
NOT FDIC, STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY INSURED
MAY LOSE VALUE
NO BANK, STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY GUARANTEE