Jan 08 ,2026
Synopsis
European equity markets set to open broadly lower after a mixed close on Wednesday.
Asia equities mostly lower Thursday. Japan benchmarks lower as the diplomatic spat with China over Taiwan shows no sign of abating.
Broader loss of direction seen as reflection of growing near term uncertainty. Geopolitical risk offers an obvious reason as markets continue to monitor Venezuela developments and potential repercussions to other regions. Trump social media posts on housing investment (institutional ban on single family house purchases) and defense (won't allow buybacks among defense companies until they step up production to meet government demand) were also notable sources of volatility. Elevated event risk also explaining much of the plateau in sentiment. Focus remains on US data, including Friday's US payrolls. Other themes to consider include the Fed chair appointment, Q4 earnings (major bank results due next week) and Supreme Court ruling on Trump tariffs.
European macro releases out today include Germany Nov factory orders, industrial production, France Nov trade balance, Italy Nov unemployment rate, Eurozone Dec economic sentiment indicator, Nov PPI, unemployment rate, Switzerland Dec CPI, Norway Nov manufacturing production, Sweden Dec preliminary CPI, Denmark Nov unemployment rate, UK Dec house price index - Halifax
Focus on earnings/updates from Tesco (TSCO.LN) and Marks & Spencer (MKS.LN) in the UK. In France, Sodexo (SW.FP) reports Q1 Organic growth +1.8% vs consensus +1.5% and reiterates FY26 guidance. Dassault Aviation (AM.FP) increases FY sales guidance to over €7.00B vs prior guidance €6.50B
In central banks, SNB releases at 9:30CET minutes of last MPC meeting, the same time as ECB's de Guindos is in fireside chat at Vocento's 2nd Edition of Next Spain Global. ECB releases results of latest consumer expectations survey at 10:00CET.
EU-Jordan summit takes place - includes EU's von der Leyen and Costa as well as Jordan's King Abdullah II. Norway's PM Støre presents the Government's plan for Norway in the Storting at 10:00CET, the same time as the Norwegian Offshore Directorate presents a summary of activity on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) over the past year. Resolution Foundation hosts event at 9:30GMT title Growing pains? What's in store for UK politics, economics and living standards in 2026.
Macro/politics
Copper in the Age of AI: The Critical Metal Facing a 10 Million Ton Shortfall by 2040 -- S&P
Rubio to meet Denmark leaders next week, signals no retreat on Trump's Greenland goal -- Reuters
EU to cut fertiliser duties to push through Mercosur trade deal -- Reuters
ECB's Pereira Says Price Stability in Place, Urges EU Reforms -- Bloomberg
Top company news
Earnings/updates
ABVX.FP (Abivax) -- provides 2026 pipeline outlook
SW.FP (Sodexo) -- reports Q1 revenue €6.26B vs year-ago €6.40B; reiterates FY26 guidance
AM.FP (Dassault Aviation) -- increases FY sales guidance to over €7.00B vs prior guidance €6.50B
PHARM.NA (Pharming Group) -- reports preliminary FY revenue $376M vs FactSet $370.2M [4 est, $366.8-372.7M]
OVH.FP (OVHCloud) -- reports Q1 revenue €263.5M, (4%) vs year-ago €275.3M
VLTSA.FP (Voltalia) -- provides update on achieving total capacity target of 3.6gigawatts; reaffirms FY25 EBITDA target
SLIGR.NA (Sligro Food Group) -- reports preliminary FY revenue €2.67B vs FactSet €2.68B [4 est, €2.65-2.71B]
BSLN.SW (Basilea Pharmaceutica) -- provides portfolio update and outlook
Also reporting today
Trading Update:
France: GenSight Biologics (SIGHT.FP)
UK: Tesco (TSCO.LN), Greggs (GRG.LN), Marks & Spencer (MKS.LN)
Traffic: Finnair (FIA1S.FH)
CMD/Events: Novonesis (NSIS.B.DC) spotlight educational session in dairy at 14:00CET (webcast/conf call link), Jungfraubahn Holding (JFN.SW) investor day
M&A
SHEL.LN (Shell Plc) -- Sembcorp, NIIF and KKR vying to acquire Shell Plc's Sprng Energy - Economic Times (06:00 IST, 08:30 SGT, 11:30 AEDT)
TEF.SM (Telefonica) -- Millicom International Cellular reportedly considering buying Telefonica's Chilean unit - Bloomberg
OLPX (Olaplex Holdings) -- Olaplex trading higher; Bloomberg reports company receiving takeover interest from Henkel (HEN3.GR)
ANTIN.FP (Antin Infrastructure Partners) -- Antin to acquire medical equipment rental specialist Emsere
MTG.B.SS (Modern Times Group MTG) -- MTG provides update on PlaySimple ownership stake; to reduce its holding of shares and votes to below 5%
MUX.GR (Mutares SE & Co KGaA) -- signs agreement to acquire the Engineering Thermoplastics Business in the Americas and Europe of SABIC for an Enterprise Value of $450M.
Healthcare
MRK.GR (Merck KGaA) -- UK MHRA approves Ogsiveo for progressing desmoid tumours in adults
MRK.GR (Merck KGaA) -- NICE recommends Merck KGaA's Bavencio with axitinib for untreated advanced RCC
DBV.FP (DBV Technologies) -- SEC filing: SCHEDULE 13D/A (Filed by Bpifrance Participations SA)
SOBI.SS (Swedish Orphan Biovitrum) -- reports positive Phase 2a EMBRACE results for Gamifant in IFN-?-Driven sepsis
YPSN.SW (Ypsomed Holding) -- expands offering for clinical studies
AB.FP (AB Science) -- reports fourth consecutive case of response from Phase 1 data for the combination of AB8939 with venetoclax for the treatment of refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia
SIGHT.FP (GenSight Biologics) -- announces closing of fundraising worth ~€2.9M
Other
UBSG.SW (UBS Group) -- capital compromise plan gets backing of largest Swiss party - wires
AVOL.SW (Avolta) -- awarded two 10-year contracts at Palm Beach International Airport
VK.FP (Vallourec) -- announces €200M share buyback
TOM2.NA (TomTom) -- enhances automotive navigation solutions through integration of Azure OpenAI
AKSO.NO (Aker Solutions) -- secures long-term maintenance and modifications frame agreements with Equinor
CMBT.BB (CMB.TECH) -- provides Fleet Update
VU.FP (VusionGroup) -- simplifies brand name and adopts just Vusion as its new company and brand name
ZEG.LN (Zegona Communications) -- pays €1.4B special dividend to shareholders and fully repays Vodafone financing
Moreld Apply awarded frame agreement for extended modifications with Equinor
Polymarket, Dow Jones partner on prediction market data; Trump seeks to limit institutional investors buying single family homes in intraday themes (7-Jan)
BYW6.GR (BayWa) -- CEO faces increased shareholders dissatisfaction - - Handelsblatt
Key rating changes
Upgrades
BNP.FP (BNP Paribas) -- to buy from neutral at UBS
BOL.SS (Boliden) -- to equal weight from underweight at Barclays
ETE.GA (National Bank of Greece) -- to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank
VOLV.B.SS (Volvo) -- to buy from neutral at Goldman Sachs
RAA.GR (Rational) -- to buy from hold at Berenberg
Downgrades
ANTO.LN (Antofagasta) -- to sell from hold at Deutsche Bank
BUCN.SW (Bucher Industries) -- to hold from buy at Berenberg
Mixed
Jefferies reinstates EQNR.NO; upgrades REP.SM, TTE.FP; downgrades GALP.PL
Jefferies upgrades CATE.SS, CTPNV.NA, SAFE.LN; downgrades COV.FP; others
Data
Nikkei (1.63%) to 51117.26
Hang Seng (1.59%) to 26038.36
Shanghai Composite (0.09%) to 4081.99
S&P futures (22.8) vs prior close of 6963.3
€-$ +0.0008 or +0.07% to 1.1683
$-¥ (0.20) or (0.13%) to 156.57
€-¥ (0.14) or (0.08%) to 182.91
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