Dec 15 ,2025
Synopsis
European equity markets set to open cautiously higher. Recall that last week, the Stoxx Europe 600 closed marginally lower after a choppy end to last week's risk rally. Fed-induced upside was offset by an AI-driven wobble. Sell-side strategists remained optimistic on the outlook but worries over AI and the more hawkish global monetary tone capped the upside. Eurozone money markets showed the ECB more likely to increase rates in 2026 than cut, which was endorsed by senior ECB official Schnabel; and was the catalyst for the German Bund yield push higher and the euro hit a two-month high against the dollar after the Fed's 25 bps rate cut.
Asian equities mostly weaker Monday. Tech-heavy Japan, South Korean and Taiwan benchmarks seeing biggest losses. Hang Seng leading China market declines. China activity data falls short of subdued expectations. In company news, China Vanke (2202.HK) promised to revise bond repayment delay plan after failing to win creditor support for its initial proposal.
This week sees the last busy period ahead of the holiday period with BOE and ECB interest rate decisions, as well as BoJ, Norges Bank and Riksbank. BoE widely expected to cut rates to 3.75%. Also on this week's agenda is EU leaders summit, Russia's President Putin's televised press conf and Q&A session, Eurozone, France, Germany, UK flash manufacturing/services PMIs, UK Oct unemployment rate as well as earnings/updates from the likes of CECONOMY (CEC.GR), Currys (CURY.LN), EVN (EVN.AV), Pepco Group (PCO.PW) and Yara International (YAR.NO).
European macro data releases out today include Switzerland Nov PPI, Eurozone Oct industrial production, Norway Nov trade balance, Finland Nov CPI
Focus on UK Dec house price index by Rightmove. Average new seller asking prices down by 1.8% (-£6,695) this month to £358,138. This larger than usual December drop means that prices are 0.6% (-£2,059) lower at the end of 2025 than in 2024. Rightmove adds bigger than usual Rightmove Boxing Day Bounce expected, as those who paused due to Budget uncertainty to join the post-Christmas boost in home-moving activity. Notes very early signs of post-Budget rebound, with number of top-end London sellers up by 24% week-on-week. Overall, Rightmove predicts asking prices will rise by 2% in 2026
Among stocks in focus this morning, M&A headlines include Orange (ORA.FP) signing binding agreement with Lorca to acquire their 50% stake in Masfor €4.25B in cash; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (SOBI.SS) enters into a definitive agreement to acquire Arthrosi Therapeutics, Inc.; Next (NXT.LN) among suitors for Russell & Bromley, reports Sky News; HBM Healthcare Investments (HBMN.SW) to sell majority stake in Swixx Biopharma to SK Capital Partners; Exor board unanimously rejects Tether's unsolicited proposal to acquire Juventus (JUVE.IM). Elsewhere, FT reports AA and RAC private capital owners race to exit ramps. In earnings, HUBER+SUHNER (HUBN.SW) revises FY guidance; expects net sales to be down (~3%) y/y vs prior guidance of flat y/y
In central banks today, the first of the Bundesbank monthly report pre-releases at 12noon CET. Bank of Italy's deputy governor Altimari welcome address at conf jointly hosted with ECB and World Bank title 'Trade, value chains and financial linkages in the global economy' (through Tue). Czech central bank publication of latest Financial Stability Report. In Switzerland, SECO publishes its latest economic forecasts.
In politics, Border Barriers Council meeting of Nordic Council of Ministers and meeting of EU foreign ministers as well as meeting of EU energy ministers. EU-Angola ministerial meeting takes place the same day as EU-Lebanon Association Council and EU Agri-Food Days (through Wed) with opening speeches at 9:15CET from EU's von der Leyen and Hansen. Norway's PM Støre presents the Government's plan for Norway at 10:00CET (livestream). In UK, MP questions on defence and Employment Rights Bill and Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill continue passage through parliament. At 14:00GMT committee business sees PM Starmer facing questions on standards in public life and his Government's 'Plan for Change' whilst other committee business includes government's use of external consultants at 15:30.
Politics/Macro/World News
Top company news
Earnings/updates
VEND.NO (Vend Marketplaces) -- pre-silent newsletter for Q4: Volume trends remain difficult to predict
TRUE.B.SS (Truecaller) -- estimates Q4 ad revenues of SEK 210-230M, ~ (30%) in constant currencies
FLOW.NA (Flow Traders) -- reports November 2025 ETP market statistics
HUBN.SW (HUBER+SUHNER) -- revises FY guidance; expects net sales to be down (~3%) y/y vs prior guidance of flat y/y
WAWI.NO (Wallenius Wilhelmsen) -- issues Q4 and FY26 outlook; guides FY26 Adj. EBITDA $1.65-1.75B vs FactSet $1.63B [9 est, $1.40-1.87B]
Also reporting today
Earnings:
France: Abivax (ABVX.FP)
UK: MHP (MHPC.LN)
Trading Update:
Nordics: Yara International (YAR.NO)
M&A
ORA.FP (Orange) -- signs binding agreement with Lorca to acquire their 50% stake in Masfor €4.25B in cash
SOBI.SS (Swedish Orphan Biovitrum) -- Sobi enters into a definitive agreement to acquire Arthrosi Therapeutics, Inc.
JUVE.IM (Juventus Football Club) -- Tether submits proposal to acquire Juventus Football Club
JUVE.IM (Juventus Football Club) -- Follow-up: Agnelli family not planning to sell its stake in Juventus to Tether or anyone else - Bloomberg
JUVE.IM (Juventus Football Club) -- Exor board unanimously rejects Tether's unsolicited proposal to acquire Juventus
RIO.AU (Rio Tinto) -- Australian miner Ioneer said to be eying a bid for Rio Tinto's US Boron unit in California - Bloomberg
RIO.AU (Rio Tinto) -- surrenders almost 150,000 hectares of land in WA and is set to offload Mt Cattlin as part of plans to downsize lithium interests - The Australian
TECK.B.CN (Teck Resources) -- Teck obtains final court approval for merger of equals with Anglo American
DHER.GR (Delivery Hero) -- Despite pressure from holders, Delivery Hero board continues to support CEO Niklas Östberg - FT
TIT.IM (Telecom Italia) -- EU announces provisional deadline of 28-Jan to rule on Italian Treasury-led consortium's acquisition of Sparkle
REP.SM (Repsol) -- EU sets a provisional deadline of 28-Jan to rule on Stonepeak's acquisition of a 43.8% stake in the Outpost solar project from Repsol
NXT.LN (Next) -- among suitors for Russell & Bromley - Sky News
SIKA.SW (Sika Group) -- Sika acquires Sweden-based Finja; price not disclosed
RLF.SW (RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding) -- completes business combination with NeuroX; deal announced 8-Oct
HBMN.SW (HBM Healthcare Investments) -- to sell majority stake in Swixx Biopharma to SK Capital Partners; investment by SK Capital values company in excess of €1.5B
Healthcare
SAN.FP (Sanofi) -- provides update on tolebrutinib regulatory submission in non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
IDYA (IDEAYA Biosciences) -- receives written notice of GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property's previously announced decision to terminate agreement with IDYA - 8-K
ALCLS.FP (Cellectis SA) -- SEC filing: SCHEDULE 13D/A (Filed by Bpifrance Participations SA)
HNSA.SS (Hansa Biopharma) -- announces reorganization of its European and International Commercial and Medical Affairs operations, effective 11-Dec-25
532523.IN (Biocon) -- signs settlement, license agreement to market Yesafili worldwide; terms undisclosed
Other
Nasdaq announces results of the semi-annual review of the OMX Copenhagen 25 Index; Changes effective at market open on 22-Dec
Additions: FLSmidth & Co. (FLS.DC)
Deletions: Nordea Bank (NDA.DK.DC)
FER.SM (Ferrovial) -- terminates share-buyback program commenced 2-Jun, to implement new up-to-€800M buyback program
DANSKE.DC (Danske Bank) -- confirms conclusion of US Department of Justice probation
KOG.NO (Kongsberg Gruppen) -- awarded $240.9M US Air Force fixed-price contract
MF.FP (Wendel) -- Transcript Intelligence: Wendel Investor Day
SUNN.SW (Sunrise Communications) -- announces termination of sponsored Class B ADS program will take effect on 30-Jan-26
Estimated weekend box office revenues in US, Canada $76.9M, (18.4%) y/y - Box Office Mojo
Rio Tinto completes due diligence for Zesty Green, clearing the way for first cash contribution from Rio Tinto of A$3M to the Project
Key rating changes
Upgrades
SAN.SM (Banco Santander) -- to outperform from neutral at Autonomous Research
NESTE.FH (Neste) -- to buy from hold at Berenberg
BNP.FP (BNP Paribas) -- to market perform from underperform at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods
BPT.LN (Bridgepoint Group) -- to buy from hold at Deutsche Numis
Downgrades
EDR.SM (eDreams ODIGEO) -- to neutral from outperform at BNP Paribas Exane
ADP.FP (Aeroport de Paris) -- to underperform from market perform at Bernstein
SN.LN (Smith & Nephew) -- to sector perform from outperform at RBC Capital Markets
BARN.SW (Barry Callebaut) -- to equal-weight from overweight at Morgan Stanley
RKT.LN (Reckitt Benckiser) -- to equal-weight from overweight at Morgan Stanley
DEMANT.DC (Demant) -- to equal-weight from overweight at Morgan Stanley
DIA.IM (Diasorin) -- to equal-weight from overweight at Morgan Stanley
Initiations
SCA.B.SS (Svenska Cellulosa) -- buy at Sparebank 1 Markets
PLNW.FP (Planisware) -- buy at Kepler Cheuvreux
VK.FP (Vallourec) -- buy at Goldman Sachs
TEN.IM (Tenaris) -- neutral at Goldman Sachs
Data
Nikkei (1.31%) to 50168.11
Hang Seng (1.22%) to 25661.08
Shanghai Composite (0.53%) to 3868.81
S&P futures +20.8 vs prior close of 6830.8
€-$ (0.0003) or (0.03%) to 1.1736
$-¥ (0.83) or (0.53%) to 155.09
€-¥ (0.98) or (0.54%) to 182.01
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