Mar 12 ,2026
Synopsis
European equity markets set to open broadly lower. Asia equities seeing losses Thursday as Brent crude prices hovered around $100/bl amid few signs of a de-escalation in the Gulf.
Busy session for earnings/updates with the likes of BMW, RWE, Generali, JCDecaux, Swiss Life, and M&G among those reporting
Oil rebounding despite IEA's coordinated release of 400M barrels of strategic oil reserves. Left open questions about individual member contributions, timeline and whether release can cushion blow from continued Hormuz closure. Iran issuing more threats to block flows. Iran also said to be deploying mines. Commercial vessels have also been struck in vicinity, including fuel tankers in Iraqi waters. Reports also highlighting US difficulty combatting Iranian threat over the Strait. More mixed messaging from White House on war's timeline after Trump said war could send soon while also vowing to continue until job is finished.
In the UK, the RICS UK Residential Market Survey shows buyer demand dipped in Feb amid renewed concerns over the interest rate outlook. Posted a net balance of -26% in February, down from -15% last month. This represents a fresh decline following the slightly less negative trends seen through the early part of the year. Alongside this, the agreed sales measure posted a net balance of -12% (marginally weaker than -9% last time) at the aggregate level. RICS notes momentum appears to have been tempered by heightened geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty following the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. As a result, near-term expectations have suffered a renewed setback, even though the twelve-month outlook for the market remains broadly positive for now.
Other European macro data releases out today include Sweden Feb final CPI and Ireland Feb CPI
In central banks, it's the start of ECB's pre-rate decision quiet period. BOE Bailey speech at 9:30GMT at Financial Stability Board payments summit (Bloomberg) and BOE's White speech at 14:40GMT at Connect Global Group 4th annual treasury and capital markets forum. Riksbank publishes Payments Report 2026 at 9:00CET with related press conf at 10:00. Turkey interest rate decision at 12:00CET. Consensus is for the benchmark rate to remain unchanged at 37%, with a handful of forecaster looking for a cut. Bank of France, Bundesbank, others host research conf on climate- and nature-related risks in the economic and financial system (through Fri); Bundesbank's Theurer opening remarks at 9:00CET. Estonia central bank hosts public seminar of the Fiscal Council title 'How to reconcile higher defense spending and sound public finances?'. IEA releases its latest monthly oil market report. In politics, Norway's PM Støre speech at 12noon CET at the annual conf. of Offshore Norway, and in the evening, hosts Chancellor Merz, topics for discussion include bilateral cooperation, European foreign and security policy, cooperation within NATO and security in the High North. In the UK, there's MPs questions on business and trade at 9:30GMT. Events include UK Finance releases business finance review and SMMT Electrified - the UK's preeminent summit on the electrification of road transport.
Politics/Macro/World News
Iranian attacks against ships in Gulf waters heightens market angst
Iran Says Truce Depends on US, Israel Pledging Not to Strike -- Bloomberg
Top company news
Earnings/updates
DACH
RWE.GR (RWE) -- reports FY Adj. net income €1.80B vs consensus €1.68B and guidance €1.3B-€1.8B; guides 2026 Adjusted net income between €1.55-2.05B vs FactSet €1.81B
BMW.GR (Bayerische Motoren Werke) -- reports Q4 EPS €2.92 vs consensus €1.74; announces €2B buyback and guides FY26
BNR.GR (Brenntag) -- confirms prelim FY25 earnings as per 4-Mar update; cuts divi by 10% and guides FY26
WAF.GR (Siltronic) -- reports Q4 EPS (€1.48) vs FactSet (€1.55) [5 est, (€1.85)-(1.12)]
ZAL.GR (Zalando) -- reports Q4 Adj. EBIT €262.1M vs StreetAccount €254.1M; initiates new share buy-back programme up to €300M from today, 12-Mar-26, until 14-Jul-26 (
GEBN.SW (Geberit) -- reports FY net income CHF617M ex-items vs FactSet CHF606.6M [20 est, CHF588-635M]
BANB.SW (Bachem Holding) -- reports FY EPS CHF1.98 vs FactSet CHF1.56 [9 est, CHF1.40-1.67]
FHZN.SW (Flughafen Zuerich) -- reports February traffic statistics
PPGN.SW (PolyPeptide Group) -- reports FY EPS (€0.64) vs FactSet (€0.39) [4 est, (€0.55)-(0.26)]
ACLN.SW (Accelleron Industries) -- reports FY EPS $2.48 vs FactSet $2.45 [9 est, $2.29-2.68]; raises dividend +20% y/y, to launch a share buyback
KARN.SW (Kardex Holding) -- reports FY net income attributable €41.6M including items
INRN.SW (Interroll Holding) -- reports FY net income CHF55.9M vs FactSet CHF57.0M [9 est, CHF50-60M]
GLJ.GR (GRENKE) -- reports FY EPS €1.29 vs FactSet €1.32 [6 est, €1.21-1.40]
Benelux
DSFIR.NA (dsm-firmenich)
sees FY26 adj EBITDA margin at ~20%; issues mid-term targets -- CMD
announces €540M share repurchase program
PHARM.NA (Pharming Group) -- reports Q4 EPS $0.01 vs FactSet $0.00 [3 est, $0.00-0.00]; guides FY26 total revenues between $405M - $425M vs FactSet $420.05M
Southern Europe
G.IM (Assicurazioni Generali) -- reports FY net income €4.32B vs consensus €4.23B; hikes divi by ~15% and announces €500M buyback
SFER.IM (Salvatore Ferragamo) -- reports FY net income (€49.2M) vs FactSet (€49.3M) [12 est, (€63.3)-(26.1M)]
France
DEC.FP (JCDecaux) -- reports FY net income attributable €262.9M vs FactSet €257.3M [10 est, €234.6-298.7M]
GBT.FP (Guerbet) -- reports FY net income (€112.7M) vs year-ago €13.5M
IDL.FP (ID Logistics Group) -- reports FY net income €64.4M vs FactSet €68.8M [7 est, €63.5-76.0M]
MTU.FP (Manitou BF) -- reports FY net income €68.5M vs FactSet €88.1M [7 est, €78.7-104.7M]
Nordics
RUSTA.SS (Rusta) -- reports Q3 EPS SEK2.20 vs FactSet SEK1.90 [3 est, SEK1.71-2.09]
Also reporting today
Earnings:
Austria: Vienna Insurance Group (VIG.AV), Oesterreichische Post (POST.AV)
Benelux: Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBLB.BB)
France: Vivendi (VIV.FP), Rubis (RUI.FP), Maurel et Prom (MAU.FP), Antin Infrastructure Partners (ANTIN.FP), Voltalia (VLTSA.FP), Sword Group (SWP.FP), Verimatrix (VMX.FP)
Germany: Daimler Truck (DTG.GR), Hannover Re (HNR1.GR), MLP (MLP.GR)
Nordics: Bavarian Nordic (BAVA.DC), Columbus (COLUM.DC)
Other: CEZ (CEZ.CP)
Southern Europe: ACEA (ACE.IM), Avio (AVIO.IM), SeSa (SES.IM), Safilo Group (SFL.IM), Aquafil (ECNL.IM), Multitude (FRU.MIL.IM)
Switzerland: Swiss Life Holding (SLHN.SW), Autoneum Holding (AUTN.SW), Molecular Partners (MOLN.SW)
UK: Informa (INF.LN), M&G (MNG.LN), Computacenter (CCC.LN), Helios Towers (HTWS.LN), TP ICAP Group (TCAP.LN), Savills (SVS.LN), Volution Group (FAN.LN), Vesuvius (VSVS.LN), Oakley Capital Investments (OCI.LN), Alfa Financial Software Holdings (ALFA.LN), Secure Trust Bank (STB.LN), James Fisher & Sons (FSJ.LN)
Trading Update:
UK: Halma (HLMA.LN)
Traffic:
Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide (FRA.GR), Flughafen Wien (FLU.AV), DFDS (DFDS.DC)
M&A
CEMEXCPO.MM (CEMEX) -- Holcim agrees to acquire the building materials and solutions operations in Colombia from Cemex; transaction value $485M
SVS.LN (Savills) -- reportedly in talks to acquire Eastdil Secured for $1.2B - Bisnow, citing report from Green Street News
BHP.AU (BHP Group) -- South32 considered a leading contender for BHP's West Musgrave nickel mine - The Australian
5.HK (HSBC Holdings) -- Allianz, Sun Life Financial consider bidding for HSBC's Singapore insurance business - Bloomberg
ACA.FP (Credit Agricole) -- Crédit Agricole Ukraine signs agreement to acquire Bank Lviv; terms not disclosed
Last day of initial acceptance period in connection with Worthington Steel's (WS) offer to acquire Kloeckner & Co. (KCO.GR)
Healthcare
GMAB.DC (Genmab) -- Transcript Intelligence: Genmab at Barclays Global Healthcare Conference
ZEAL.DC (Zealand Pharma) -- Transcript Intelligence: Zealand Pharma at Barclays Global Healthcare Conference
ONT.LN (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) -- Transcript Intelligence: Oxford Nanopore Technologies at Barclays Global Healthcare Conference
EGTX.SS (Egetis Therapeutics) -- Transcript Intelligence: Egetis Therapeutics at Leerink Global Healthcare Conference
4FR.GR (Faron Pharmaceuticals) -- receives approval from Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority for previously announced €40M rights offering
Other
APAM.NA Aperam will join the Bel20 effective 23-March
AIR.FP (Airbus SE) -- ÖAMTC Flugrettung and Airbus Helicopters announce strategic long-term framework contract for Airbus H135, H140 and H145 helicopters
RKT.LN (Reckitt Benckiser) -- Transcript Intelligence: Reckitt Benckiser at UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference
ADEN.SW (Adecco Group) -- signs a new multi-year agreement with Salesforce
MTRS.SS (Munters Group) -- announces Stefan Aspman to succeed Klas Forsström as President and CEO
CO.FP (Casino Guichard-Perrachon) -- Casino Group comments on Co. Brasileira's agreement with main creditors for filing of extrajudicial recovery plan
Key rating changes
Upgrades
HOC.LN (Hochschild Mining) -- to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan
NESTE.FH (Neste) -- to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital Markets
REP.SM (Repsol) -- to outperform from underperform at RBC Capital Markets
RTO.LN (Rentokil Initial) -- to buy from neutral at UBS
SHUR.BB (Shurgard Self Storage) -- to buy from hold at Kepler Cheuvreux
Downgrades
BOY.LN (Bodycote) -- to sector perform from outperform at RBC Capital Markets
AKRBP.NO (Aker BP) -- to sell from hold at SEB
ANDR.AV (Andritz) -- to neutral from outperform at Oddo
NEXI.IM (Nexi SpA) -- to hold from buy at Kepler Cheuvreux
Initiations
HBR.LN (Harbour Energy) -- buy at DNB Carnegie
Other Actions
HIK.LN (Hikma Pharmaceuticals) -- reinstated buy at Peel Hunt; prior rating was buy
Data
Nikkei (1.04%) to 54452.96
Hang Seng (0.92%) to 25661.11
Shanghai Composite (0.08%) to 4130.22
S&P futures (50.5) vs prior close of 6779.5
€-$ (0.0018) or (0.16%) to 1.1549
$-¥ (0.00) or (0.00%) to 158.95
€-¥ (0.31) or (0.17%) to 183.54
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