Aug 22 ,2025
Synopsis
European equity markets indicate a mixed open mirroring trading in Asia and amidst soft US futures following moderate declines in Thursday trading. Asia big tech and autos mostly higher, particularly in Japan and Hong Kong, despite softer US tech leads. Treasuries slightly firmer, recovering some of Thursday's weakness. Dollar firmer. Oil down. Gold lower. Industrial metals lower.
Fed now squarely in focus ahead of Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole symposium. September rate cut expectations fell below 80% after latest hawkish Fedspeak and upside surprise in US flash PMIs. Nothing new on European central bank policy. Yesterday's PMIs reinforced expectations of unchanged policy for ECB and BoE in September. Markets still bracing for announcement of US chip tariffs potentially in the triple digits, which President Trump flagged could be announced this week. US and EU reached framework agreement on trade, though now largely on the back burner.
There is little of note on the agenda for today out of Europe. On the macroeconomics calendar for today, Germany Q2 GDP and UK Jul retail sales are due at 7:00 BST, followed by France Aug business confidence at 7:45 BST. Norway Q2 GDP, Sweden Jul unemployment rate, Ireland Jul PPI also pending release. UK Aug consumer confidence came in at (17) vs consensus (20) and prior (19) - Gfk; UK consumer confidence sentiment reached the best level since December, with biggest driver changing perception on personal finances.
Politics/Macro/World News
Military options for Ukraine discussed by US, European national security advisers (Reuters )
Proposed Ukraine land concessions are Putin's trap, EU's top diplomat tells BBC
What's in the EU's framework trade deal with the US - and what isn't (Politico )
What issues are likely to be discussed at the US-South Korea summit? (Reuters )
Top company news
Earnings/updates
AMBU.B.DC (Ambu) -- reports Q3 EPS DKK0.46 vs FactSet DKK0.55 [2 est, DKK0.51-0.58]; Raises lower end of FY organic revenue growth guidance
BAVA.DC (Bavarian Nordic A/S) -- Q2 net income DKK362.6M, +39% vs year-ago DKK261.1M; narrows FY revenue expectations
BTS.B.SS (BTS Group) -- final Q2 earnings: EPS SEK2.03 vs FactSet SEK3.13 [2 est, SEK2.76-3.50]; reaffirms FY guidance
HAUTO.NO (Höegh Autoliners) -- Q2 EPS $0.64 vs FactSet $0.67 [7 est, $0.57-0.75]
PRS.NO (Prosafe) -- Q2 EPS ($1.34) vs year-ago ($0.58)
RECSI.NO (REC Silicon) -- reports Q2 EPS cont ops ($0.02) vs year-ago ($0.02)
SYNSAM.SS (Synsam) -- Q2 EPS SEK0.79 vs FactSet SEK0.96 [2 est, SEK0.94-0.98]
SZU.GR (Suedzucker) -- expects FY EBITDA 470-570M vs prior guidance €525-675M and FactSet €570.1M
UQA.AV (UNIQA Insurance Group) -- H1 net income €232.5M, +5% vs year-ago €220.9M; expects FY EBT of €490-510M
ALLN.SW (Allreal Holding) -- reports H1 net income (ex-revaluation gains) CHF62.6M, +3% vs year-ago CHF60.5M
APETIT.FH (Apetit) -- Q2 EPS (€0.23) vs year-ago €0.01; confirms FY profit guidance
M&A
AI.FP (Air Liquide) -- to acquire DIG Airgas for EV of €2.85B/KRW4.6T
TPG.GR (The Platform Group) -- is negotiating an acquisition in the pharmaceutical platform sector
MOBN.SW (Mobimo Holding) -- completes the acquisition of EMWE Holding LTD
CAPMAN.FH (Capman) -- Real Estate acquires 262-unit multifamily housing development project in Stockholm; terms unisclosed
Other
BA.LN (BAE Systems) -- to accelerate chip production for mission-critical defense programs using CHIPS Act funding towards modernization of Microelectronics Center (MEC) in New Hampshire
HTG.LN (Hunting) -- issues an update regarding the restructuring of the EMEA operating segment, which was previously announced in January 2025.
HYL.BB (Hyloris Pharmaceuticals) -- signs exclusive license and supply agreement with Huons Co., Ltd (243070.KS) for XTRAZA in South Korea
SHLF.NO (Shelf Drilling) -- announces one-year contract extension for Shelf Drilling Tenacious; firm contract value ~$50M
Key rating changes
Upgrades
AAF.LN (Airtel Africa) -- to buy from hold at HSBC
BOL.SS (Boliden) -- to buy from hold at Handelsbanken
FLS.DC (FLSmidth & Co.) -- to buy from hold at Handelsbanken
FUR.NA Fugro upgraded to outperform from neutral at BNP Paribas Exane
KAR.SS (Karnov Group) -- to buy from hold at DNB Carnegie
ROCK.B.DC (Rockwool) -- to buy from hold at Danske Bank
Downgrades
DHL.GR (DHL Group) -- to hold from buy at Kepler Cheuvreux
EVD.GR (CTS Eventim) -- to neutral from outperform at Oddo
SPIR.NO (Spir Group) -- to hold from buy at ABG Sundal Collier
Other Actions
SBS.GR (Stratec) -- transferred buy at Berenberg; prior rating was buy
Data
Nikkei (0.12%) to 42557.01
Hang Seng +0.40% to 25204.07
Shanghai Composite +0.89% to 3804.69
S&P futures (2.5) vs prior close of 6388.3
€-$ (0.0017) or (0.14%) to 1.1590
$-¥ +0.29 or +0.20% to 148.67
€-¥ +0.04 or +0.02% to 172.25
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