Mar 20 ,2026
Synopsis
European and US futures pointing to higher open for now. Asia equities trading mostly lower Friday amid thin volumes. Shanghai's main board and Hong Kong at two-week lows; Australia, Taiwan and Singapore also lower. Some gains for Shenzhen, South Korea and a strong surge in India over morning trading. Market holidays in Japan, Indonesia and Philippines.
US equities finished mostly lower in Thursday trading, with the S&P ending just below its 200-day moving average. Big tech was broadly lower with TSLA the notable Mag 7 decliner.
Market continues to process implications from ongoing elevation in energy prices with bond yields surging amid continued ramp in central bank rate hike expectations. Overnight selling was most pronounced in Gilts after BOE said no more scope for rate cuts in near-term, leading markets to price in two rate hikes this year. Alongside rise in inflation expectations, surging energy prices also fanning concerns around demand destruction and supply chain disruptions amid shortages of raw materials.
In Central Banks: Bundesbank's Nagel speech at 18:30CET title 'Current Economic Prospects for Germany' at the district of Goslar's parliament. Russia interest rate decision at 11:30CET is expected to see a (50bps) cut in the benchmark interest rate to 15.0%.
Economic: Germany Feb PPI, Italy Jan trade balance, UK Feb public sector borrowing, Mar industrial trends orders - CBI, Eurozone Jan trade balance
Earnings reported so far today: (CFT.SW) Cie Financiere Tradition reports FY net income CHF134.2M vs FactSet CHF132.1M. (FPE3.GR) FUCHS SE reports FY EPS €2.33 vs FactSet €2.32
UK: Kazatomprom (KAP.LN), Smiths Group (SMIN.LN), JD Wetherspoon (JDW.LN)
Politics/Macro/World News
Top company news
Earnings/updates
ALCLS.FP (Cellectis SA) -- reports Q4 EPS ($0.26) vs FactSet ($0.20) [6 est, ($0.32)-0.04]
REC.IM (Recordati) -- board approves FY25 accounts, confirms previously issued FY25 preliminary results; Dividend of €1.34/sh
NYXH.BB (Nyxoah) -- reports Q4 operating income (€18.6M) vs FactSet (€23.3M) [6 est, (€27.7)-(19.1M)]
INW.IM (Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane) -- lowers FY guidance, reviews relationship status with TIM and Fastweb+Vodafone
FPE3.GR (FUCHS SE) -- reports FY EPS €2.33 vs FactSet €2.32 [12 est, €2.26-2.35]
PNE3.GR (PNE) -- provides forecast for 2026 financial year
M&A
NOVN.SW (Novartis) -- agrees to acquire pan-mutant-selective PI3Ka inhibitor from Synnovation Therapeutics LLC for $2B upfront and up to $1B in milestone payments
ULVR.LN (Unilever) -- in discussions over separating food business and combining it with McCormick - media report
SPI.LN (Spire Healthcare Group) -- Bridgepoint preparing to launch bid for Spire Healthcare Group at 230p/share - Sky News
ELG.GR (Elmos Semiconductor) -- exploring sale - Reuters citing sources
ELG.GR (Elmos Semiconductor) -- Follow-up: Elmos Semiconductor exploring sale as its founders consider exit - Reuters
ULVR.LN (Unilever) -- Follow-up: Unilever in discussions over separating food business and combining it with McCormick - Bloomberg
OXUR.BB (Oxurion) -- signs a letter of intent for the acquisition of an international CRO
CS.SS (Coinshares International) -- CoinShares announces voting results and update on other conditions in connection with pending transaction
MOZN.SW (mobilezone holding) -- acquires Swiss e-commerce platform Apfelkiste.ch and retail branding specialist MAREIN; reports that an adjustment to the EBITDA guidance for the 2026 financial year will be communicated upon completion of the transaction
Healthcare
ROG.SW (Roche Holding) -- Genentech stops development of emugrobart in SMA; Cantor sees opportunity for Scholar Rock
RYTM (Rhythm Pharmaceuticals) -- FDA approves Rhythm Pharmaceuticals' IMCIVREE (setmelanotide) for patients with acquired hypothalamic obesity
Other
MT.NA (ArcelorMittal) -- SEC filing: SCHEDULE 13D/A (Filed by LUMEN INVESTMENTS S.A R.L.)
DBK.GR (Deutsche Bank) -- appoints Marie-Jeanne Deverdun and Stefan Hoops to management board, Fabrizio Campelli appointed president
BA.LN (BAE Systems) -- UK Ministry of Defense considering delaying replacement program for Type-45 destroyers - London Times
ML.FP (Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SA) -- Michelin publishes global tire market data for Feb
LHA.GR (Deutsche Lufthansa) -- Transcript Intelligence: Deutsche Lufthansa at OTC Markets Group QX Best Virtual Investor Conference
SBRY.LN (J Sainsbury) -- Transcript Intelligence: J Sainsbury at OTC Markets Group QX Best Virtual Investor Conference
MIPS.SS (MIPS) -- releases 2025 Annual and Sustainability Report
CORRECTION(S): Transcript Intelligence summaries from Gabelli Specialty Chemicals Symposium have all been removed
IVC Evidensia in early talks over multibillion-pound London or European IPO - FT
Key rating changes
Upgrades
BAYN.GR (Bayer AG) -- to outperform from neutral at Oddo
IFX.GR (Infineon Technologies) -- to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan
MONC.IM (Moncler) -- to outperform from neutral at Oddo
NDA.SE.SS (Nordea Bank) -- to buy from hold at ABG Sundal Collier
RAA.GR (Rational) -- to sector perform from underperform at RBC Capital Markets
Downgrades
INPST.NA (InPost) -- to hold from buy at Jefferies
Initiations
GALD.SW (Galderma Group) -- outperform at Oddo
TEMN.SW (Temenos) -- buy at Berenberg
Data
Nikkei +0.00% to 53372.53
Hang Seng (0.57%) to 25354.65
Shanghai Composite (0.37%) to 3991.91
S&P futures +5.8 vs prior close of 6660.0
€-$ (0.0031) or (0.27%) to 1.1559
$-¥ +0.67 or +0.43% to 158.38
€-¥ +0.29 or +0.16% to 183.07
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