Dec 19 ,2025
Synopsis:
European equity markets closed higher. Following yesterday's flurry of central bank announcements, today saw several of the region's central bank's releasing their latest economic forecasts. Bundesbank released forecast for Germany, and published its latest monthly report. Belgium central bank released its biannual economic outlook for Belgium, with webinar during the afternoon hosted by the bank's economists. Bank of Finland published its outlook for the Finnish economy. Austria's central bank presented its latest economic forecasts. Latvia central bank presented latest economic forecasts and Slovak central bank it's latest statistical bulletin.
Ireland central bank's Economics Winter Workshop saw welcoming remarks by Governor Makhlouf and ECB's Lane delivered lecture.
ECB's Cipollone delivered opening remarks at roundtable discussion organised by the Aspen Institute Italia.
Russia central bank cut its benchmark interest rate to 16.0%, as expected.
Amongst the economic data releases, there were disappointing updates for UK Nov retail sales and public sector net borrowing as well as Germany Jan consumer confidence, whilst Italian Dec business/consumer confidence was mixed
Russia's President Putin held his year-end press conf and Q&A session, underscoring Kremlin's hardline stance on peace talks.
Among the handful of companies releasing earnings/updates is WH Smith (SMWH.LN) FY pretax income from cont. ops. £108M ex-items vs FactSet £105.7M, provided trading update for first 15 weeks of FY26 and FY26 guidance. Also announced Financial Conduct Authority has commenced an investigation into the company
M&A news flow included Eurazeo (RF.FP) agreeing to sell ~ €260M in assets previously carried on its balance sheet as part of its Elevate strategy, Clariant (CLN.SW) divesting its business in Venezuela, Ion Beam Applications (IBAB.BB) acquiring ORA and Oerlikon (OERL.SW) receiving all necessary regulatory clearances to divest Barmag to Rieter (RIEN.SW).
Digest:
Sectors - STOXX Europe 600:
STOXX Europe 600 sectors Outperformers: Utilities +0.95%, Oil & Gas +0.91%, Health Care +0.82%, Insurance +0.76%, Banks +0.76%, Ind Goods & Svcs +0.53%, Travel & Leisure +0.52%, Basic Resources +0.40%, Underperformers: Persnl & HHold Goods (0.93%), Retail (0.85%), Food & Beverage (0.46%), Real Estate (0.36%), Construct & Mtls (0.35%), Media (0.31%), Chemicals (0.20%), Telecom +0.07%, Technology +0.31%, Financial Svcs +0.34%, Autos & Parts +0.35%,
Macro/Peripheral markets:
German economy will gradually recover says Bundesbank - release
Finnish economy's recovery moving modestly forward - Bank of Finland release
Austria's central bank presented its latest economic forecasts - release
Latvia central bank presented latest economic forecasts - release
Chancellor Merz's authority damaged after double defeat in Europe - Handelsblatt
Ireland publishes medium-term fiscal and structural plan - release
EU agrees €90B loan to Ukraine after frozen Russian asset plan fails - FT
ECB officials say cycle of rate cuts most likely over - Bloomberg
BOE cautious amid hot wages in cooling jobs market - Bloomberg
France to end 2025 without a proper state budget - Politico
Russia's President Putin held his year-end press conf - BBC rolling coverage
UK retailers report bleak holiday trading as sales outlook darkens - CBI survey
EU Council endorsed the agreement for the participation of Canada in SAFE to further strengthen their joint defence cooperation - release
Company news:
Notable Gainers
% SEM.PL (Semapa) -- agrees to sell Secil - Companhia Geral de Cal e Cimento to Cementos Molins for €1.4B (Enterprise Value)
% KETL.LN (Strix Group) agrees to sell the Billi business for an aggregate consideration of £110.0M
% EXENS.FP (Exosens) -- hold from reduce at Kepler Cheuvreux
% GOMX.SS (GomSpace Group) -- provides update on FY25 guidance
% ALSN.SW (ALSO Holding) -- initiated outperform at Oddo
% EMEIS.FP (Emeis) --raises €3.15B in new financing; provides update on associated debt restructurings
% EGTX.SS (Egetis Therapeutics) -- initiates NDA in the USA for Emcitate (tiratricol) for MCT8 deficiency
% LHYFE.FP (Lhyfe) -- confirms its objective of doubling 2025 sales with ~ €10M reached by year end vs FactSet €10.57M
% AXFO.SS (Axfood) -- initiated buy at Handelsbanken
% OSB.LN (OSB Group) -- update in relation to group's MREL requirements; BOE has notified group that its preferred resolution strategy for group, effective from 1-Jan-26, will be as a transfer firm
% DCC.LN (DCC) -- results of tender offer; 11.6M shares tendered and will be purchased at £51.70/share
% FAGR.BB (Fagron) -- announces two strategic acquisitions and key North American licensing milestone
% ALPHA.GA (Alpha Bank) -- agrees on key terms for a strategic combination of Universal and Altius insurance operations in Cyprus
Notable Decliners
% PRO.LN (ProService Building Services Marketplace) -- H1 EPS (0.1p) vs year-ago (0.1p)
% LINDEX.FH (Lindex Group) -- updates on progress of the strategic assessment of the department store business
% SMWH.LN (WH Smith) -- FY pretax income £108M ex-items vs FactSet £105.7M
% BRNK.GR (Branicks Group) -- notarises sale of the SAP Tower in Eschborn to an international investor as part of an asset deal
% HBH.GR (Hornbach Holding) reports final Q3 earnings, reaffirms FY guidance
% RIEN.SW (Rieter Holding) -- neutral from buy at UBS
% ARCAD.NA (ARCADIS) -- neutral from buy at UBS
% KER.FP (Kering ) -- announces the phased acquisition of jewelry name, Raselli Franco Group, with an initial 20% stake for €115M and a pathway to 100% by 2032
EU companies reporting Monday:
No major earnings/updates
Data:
Economics:
UK
Nov retail sales +0.6% y/y vs consensus +1.6%, prior revised +0.6% from +0.2%
Nov public sector net borrowing £11.65B vs consensus £10.2B, prior revised £21.19B from £17.43B
Dec consumer confidence (17) vs consensus (18), prior (19) - GfK
Dec CBI distributive trades (44) vs consensus (30), prior (32)
Germany
Jan GfK consumer confidence (26.9) vs consensus (23.0), prior revised (23.4) from (23.2)
Nov PPI (2.3%) y/y vs consensus (2.2%), prior (1.8%)
France Nov PPI (3.2%) y/y vs consensus (3.5%), prior (1.2%)
Italy Dec
Business confidence 88.4 vs consensus 89.3, prior revised 89.5 from 89.6
Consumer confidence 96.6 vs consensus 96.0, prior 95.0
Eurozone Dec flash consumer confidence (14.6) vs consensus (14.0), prior (14.2)
Denmark Nov retail sales +4.7% y/y vs consensus +4.4%, prior +4.9%
Sweden Nov retail sales +5.6% y/y vs consensus +3.6%, prior revised +3.5% from +3.4%
Markets:
WTI Crude (Jan 26): +$0.46 or +0.82% to $56.61
€-$ (0.0005) or (0.04%) to 1.1719
£-$ (0.0009) or (0.07%) to 1.3375
€-£ +0.0001 to 0.8762
S&P 500 +1.58%
Performance year-to-date
FTSE 100: +21.10%
DAX: +22.00%
CAC: +10.44%
MIB: +30.92% Stoxx 600: +15.74%
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