Feb 09 ,2026
Synopsis
European equity markets set to open broadly higher, extending last week's gains. Recall the Stoxx Europe 600 navigated a turbulent few days dominated by AI disruption fears and central bank policy decisions, but still managed to post another record close, up 1.00% on the week. Software and digital sectors suffered the worst rotation since 2008. The BoE held the Bank Rate at 3.75% but delivered a dovish tilt, and the ECB held rates unchanged for a fifth consecutive meeting, maintaining its data-dependent stance
This week's agenda sees an informal EU leaders' retreat, Munich Security Conf, OPEC and IEA monthly oil market reports, Eurozone Q4 GDP (2nd est.), UK Q4 preliminary GDP, Dec industrial/manufacturing production as well as earnings/updates from Ahold Delhaize (AD.NA), AB InBev (ABI.BB), AstraZeneca (AZN.LN), bp (BP.LN), Barclays (BARC.LN), Hermes (RMS.FP), Michelin (ML.FP), Siemens (SIE.GR), TotalEnergies (TTE.FP) and Unilever (ULVR.LN).
European macro data releases out today include Switzerland Jan consumer confidence - SECO, Norway Q4 GDP, Jan PPI, Denmark Dec trade balance, Eurozone Feb Sentix economic index
Focus on UK political situation as Morgan McSweeney quit as the prime minister's chief of staff on Sunday, saying he takes "full responsibility" for advising the PM to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador last year. UK PM Keir Starmer will address Labour MPs in private at the weekly Parliamentary Labour Party meeting on Monday as he fights to shore up his premiership (BBC)
On the corporate front, focus on M&A headlines as Advent, FedEx, A&R and PPF announce recommended all-cash €15.60/share offer for all InPost shares; values InPost at ~€7.8B; meanwhile, DSM-Firmenich (DSFIR.NA) to divest Animal Nutrition & Healthbusiness to CVC Capital Partners for enterprise value of ~ €2.2B including earnout of up to €0.5B. dsm-firmenich will retain a 20% equity stake in the divested ANH Companies, in partnership with CVC; intends to launch a new share repurchase program to buy back ordinary shares with an aggregate market value of €0.5B.
On the earnings front, UniCredit (UCG.IM) reports Q4 net income €1.83B vs consensus €1.74B and guides FY26-FY28.
In central banks, ECB's Lane lecture at 12noon GMT at Maynooth Univ and ECB's Lagarde in EP plenary debate at 17:00CET on the state of the EU economy and ECB activities. Elsewhere, Bundesbank's Nagel panellist at 17:00CET at event hosted by Institut für Finanzwirtschaft,. Banken und Versicherungen and BOE's Mann panellist at 19:30GMT and 22:15 at event in California. Lithuania central bank's Šimkus speech in Vilnius. In the UK, MPs hold a general debate on the UK-India free trade agreement. Norway's minister of fisheries and the oceans Næss to meet with Seafood Norway on the framework conditions for the seafood industry.
Politics/Macro/World News
UK
Spain
Spain's Ruling Party Suffers Second Ballot Loss in Two Months -- Bloomberg
Portugal
Landslide win for centre-left candidate António José Seguro in Portugal's presidential runoff - DN
Digital euro
ECB's Piero Cipollone explains digital euro dynamics -- Cyprus News Agency
Top company news
Earnings/updates
UCG.IM (UniCredit) --
reports Q4 net income €1.83B vs consensus €1.74B; guides FY26-FY28
releases presentation material in connection with Q4 earnings, FY26-28 ambition building into 2030 ultimate aim
IBE.SM (Iberdrola) -- reports provisional Q4 total electricity production 32,374 GWh, +2.7% y/y
SWON.SW (SoftwareONE Holding) -- reports prelim FY revenue CHF1.24B vs FactSet CHF1.29B [10 est, CHF1.21-1.50B]; confirms FY25 guidance for adjusted EBITDA margin above 20% on combined like-for-like basis.
ENX.FP (Euronext) -- Jan trading activity
BAKKA.NO (Bakkafrost) -- reports Q4 operational EBIT DKK295M vs FactSet DKK321.6M [13 est, DKK262-387.8M]
Also reporting today
Earnings:
Benelux: NX Filtration (NXFIL.NA)
Nordics: Sagax (SAGA.B.SS), Bakkafrost (BAKKA.NO)
Southern Europe: Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS.IM)
UK: Plus500 (PLUS.LN), Porvair (PRV.LN), Wynnstay Group (WYN.LN)
Trading Update:
DACHs: Aumovio (AMV0.GR)
France: Beneteau (BEN.FP)
CMD/Events: Roche Holding (ROG.SW) Fenebrutinib vs. Ocrevus Phase III FENtrepid study update call
M&A
DSFIR.NA (DSM-Firmenich) -- to divest Animal Nutrition & Healthbusiness to CVC Capital Partners for enterprise value of ~ €2.2B including earnout of up to €0.5B; intends to launch a new share repurchase program to buy back ordinary shares with an aggregate market value of €0.5B
INPST.NA (InPost) -- Advent, FedEx, A&R and PPF announce recommended all-cash €15.60/share offer for all InPost shares; values InPost at ~€7.8B
NWG.LN (NatWest Group) -- NatWest in advanced talks to acquire Evelyn Partners for £2.5-3B - Sky News
AAK.SS (AarhusKarlshamn) -- EU sets a provisional deadline of 13-Mar to rule on AAK's JV with Kuala Lumpur Kepong
Namibia says TotalEnergies, Petrobras didn't follow procedure for Luderitz Basin purchases - Reuters
Healthcare
SAN.FP (Sanofi) -- Sanofi's rilzabrutinib designated breakthrough therapy in the US and orphan drug in Japan for the treatment of warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia
ROG.SW (Roche Holding) -- Genentech presents new late-breaking data from FENtrepid study of fenebrutinib
HIMS (Hims & Hers Health) -- to stop offering compounded semaglutide pill on its platform - post on X
BAYN.GR (Bayer AG) -- EPA announces new registration enabling Bayer to launch Strayax dicamba herbicide for 2026 season
BIOA.B.SS (BioArctic) -- announces BLA for subcutaneous formulation of Leqembi designated for Priority Review in China
Other
WPP.LN (WPP Group) -- WPP preparing to bring three units under one banner as part of strategic overhaul amid AI threat - FT
STMPA.FP (STMicroelectronics) -- secures multi-billion-dollar strategic engagement with AWS across cloud and semiconductor technologies
RYA.ID (Ryanair Holdings) -- provides commentary on decision of Walloon Govt; to operate full Charleroi summer schedule and grow traffic by +9%
OCDO.LN (Ocado Group) -- Ocado planning to cut up to 1000 jobs - Sunday Times
GLE.FP (Societe Generale) -- announces completion of €1B share buy-back program
BWLPG.NO (BW LPG) -- secures three-year time charter-out contracts for two VLGCs
Estimated weekend box office revenues in US, Canada $60.8M, +12% y/y - Box Office Mojo
Key rating changes
Upgrades
DNLM.LN (Dunelm Group) -- to buy from hold at Jefferies
G24.GR (Scout24) -- to buy from neutral at UBS
VALMT.FH (Valmet) -- to buy from hold at SEB
Downgrades
ULVR.LN (Unilever) -- to hold from buy at Deutsche Numis
PRY.IM (Prysmian) -- to hold from buy at Deutsche Bank
TYRES.FH (Nokian Renkaat) -- to hold from buy at SEB
GRG.LN (Greggs) -- to hold from buy at Jefferies
VWS.DC (Vestas Wind Systems) -- to hold from buy at Kepler Cheuvreux
SKA.B.SS (Skanska) -- to sell from hold at Handelsbanken
Initiations
ELUX.B.SS (Electrolux) -- re- neutral at UBS
Other Actions
ATG.LN (Auction Technology Group) -- reinstated overweight at JPMorgan; prior rating was overweight
Data
Nikkei +3.89% to 56363.94
Hang Seng +1.95% to 27076.71
Shanghai Composite +1.30% to 4118.53
S&P futures +4.5 vs prior close of 6952.8
€-$ +0.0037 or +0.31% to 1.1852
$-¥ (0.64) or (0.41%) to 156.46
€-¥ (0.16) or (0.09%) to 185.44
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