Apr 20 ,2026
Synopsis
European equity markets set to open lower following last week's gains. The Stoxx Europe 600 posted its fourth consecutive weekly gain, up over 1.9%. Oil prices higher this morning. WTI Crude +6.15% to $89.01, Brent +5.61% to $95.45. Latest Iran headlines raising uncertainty about prospects of second of round of talks. Trump sending US delegation to Pakistan this week though no confirmation from Iran whether they are sending delegation. Tensions ratcheted higher over Strait of Hormuz after Iran re-closed the waterway and fired on vessels, accusing US of violating ceasefire by maintaining its blockade. Trump warned war will resume if Iran doesn't sign deal, renewing threat to take out power plants and bridges. US also seized Iran-linked oil tanker attempting to escape blockade.
In the UK, focus on political situation as PM Keir Starmer set to deliver statement to MPs today as he struggles to overcome fears inside his government that the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal could yet cost him his leadership (Guardian ). PM's statement to MPs will come ahead of testimony from sacked Foreign Office head Olly Robbins (FT )
UK Rightmove House Price Index already out (link). Average new seller asking prices rise by 0.8% (+£2,929) in April to £373,971, smaller than the long-term April average of 1.2%. Increased mortgage rates and stiff competition to find a buyer are limiting new seller asking price growth this spring, with the number of homes for sale still at an eleven-year high for the time of year. Despite higher mortgage rates due to the global uncertainty, the housing market has remained surprisingly resilient so far. The latest real-time market snapshot shows that new buyer demand for April to date is 7% below this time last year but consistent with this year's trend of lagging behind 2025/ • The number of sales agreed is also resilient, currently at just 3% behind this time last year. In addition the number of homes newly coming to market is only 1% behind last year, and 13% higher than in 2024.
Other European macro data releases out today include Germany Mar PPI, Portugal Mar PPI
On the corporate front highlights, UCB to acquire Neurona Therapeutics for total transaction value of up to US $1.15B including potential earnouts; TA Associates in advanced talks to buy Advanced Medical Solutions Group for about 280p/share, reports Sky News; Bally's reportedly is in advanced talks to acquire Evoke
In central banks, first of Bundesbank's monthly report pre-releases at 12noon CET and Riksbank's Thedéen giving an opening speech at Hanaholmen Industry Forum at 12.00CET. Annual reception of Assn. of German Banks sees speeches by Chancellor Merz at 18:10CET, ECB's Lagarde at 18:40. In the UK, PM Starmer is due to make a statement (scheduled for ~15:30BST) to MPs, which may yield more information about how Peter Mandelson failed his security vetting (Bloomberg, Times, FT). Parliamentary committee topics include UK/EU Treaty on Gibraltar at 13:30BST. Also, EU's Šefčovič hosts UK's minister for the constitution and EU Thomas-Symonds whilst EU's Kadis opens the EU-China Blue Partnership Forum on the Ocean and EU's Roswall meets with the Parliamentary Committees responsible for Foreign and European Affairs. Official opening of the Hannover Messe trade fair with related press confs by the BDI, ZVEI & VDMA trade associations. Chancellor Merz at the open and participates in Industrial AI: From Strategy to Scaling at 11:00CET with CEOs from Siemens (SIE.GR) Busch and SAP (SAP.FGR) Klein, Ministers for Digital Affairs and Defense also speaking through the day.
Politics/Macro/World News
Moody's Ratings downgrades Belgium to A1, changes outlook to stable -- link
ECB frontrunner Hernández de Cos is most qualified candidate for top job, economists say -- FT
ECB Better Off to Wait Than Rush Into Rate Action, Demarco Says -- Bloomberg
ECB's Kocher Warns Against Preemptive Rate Action on Uncertainty -- Bloomberg
Rumen Radev looks set to win Bulgarian Parliamentary election -- BBC
Judgement day for Starmer over Mandelson vetting scandal -- Independent
UK Housing market remains steady despite higher mortgage rates; Apr Average new seller asking prices rise by 0.8% -- Rightmove
Merz Sets Crisis Talks to Tackle Energy Price Impact on Germany -- Bloomberg
Market stronger on reports of reopened Hormuz, nuclear deal though many uncertainties remain:
US-Iran tensions flare over Strait of Hormuz, heightening uncertainty about talks:
Top company news
Earnings/updates
WCH.GR (Wacker Chemie) -- reports preliminary Q1 adjusted EBITDA €173M vs prior guidance €140M - €160M and FactSet €144.3M [4 est, €121-154M]
MOWI.NO (Mowi) -- Q1 trading update: operational EBIT €221M vs FactSet €226.8M [12 est, €201.8-254M]
MDM.FP (Maisons du Monde) -- 2025 results as it continues search for strategic backer under conciliator guidance
LUND.B.SS (L E Lundbergföretagen) -- reports NAV after deferred tax of SEK 652/sh as of 17-Apr ahead of AGM on 20-Apr vs 31-Dec SEK587/sh
B8FK.GR (Biofrontera AG) -- reports FY25 EBIT €4.0M vs year-ago (€5.5M)
BYLOT.GA (Bally's Intralot) -- reports FY net income (€61.0M) vs year-ago €16.6M
SAR.GA (GR Sarantis) -- reports Q1 EBIT €17.5M vs year-ago €14.8M
Also reporting today
Earnings:
UK: Elixirr International (ELIX.LN), M&C Saatchi (SAA.LN)
Trading Update:
DACHs: Aryzta (ARYN.SW)
France: Mercialys (MERY.FP), La Française de l'Energie (FDE.FP)
Southern Europe: GR Sarantis (SAR.GA)
UK: Rio Tinto (RIO.LN)
M&A
UCB.BB (UCB) -- to acquire Neurona Therapeutics for total transaction value of up to US $1.15B including potential earnouts
AMS.LN (Advanced Medical Solutions Group) -- TA Associates in advanced talks to buy Advanced Medical Solutions Group for about 280p/share - Sky News
CA.FP (Carrefour) -- announces sale of its minority stake in Carrefour SA in Turkey to Aydin
EVOK.LN (Evoke) -- Bally's is in advanced talks to acquire Evoke -- Sunday Times
RUI.FP (Rubis) -- considering buying Puma Energy for cash, shares - Bloomberg
EAST.SS (Eastnine) -- agrees to sell two properties in Latvia to fund managed by Provendi Asset Management for ~ €38M
Healthcare
AZN.LN (AstraZeneca) -- FDA grants orphan drug designation to Alexion Pharmaceuticals for palacaparib as treatment of malignant glioma
GSK.LN (GSK Plc) -- FDA grants orphan drug designation to GlaxoSmithKline for momelotinib
SAN.FP (Sanofi) -- COMPARE study of Sanofi's Nuvaxovid vs Moderna's mNEXSPIKE meets primary endpoint
ROP.SW (Roche Holding) -- Roche issues statement on OCREVUS safety and efficacy in PPMS
IMCR (Immunocore Holdings) -- presents five-year survival with tebentafusp in previously untreated metastatic uveal melanoma of 16% versus 8% in a Phase 3 trial at AACR 2026
HLUN.B.DC (H. Lundbeck) -- presents new six-month results from INFUSE study at AAN
IPH.FP (Innate Pharma) -- to present Matisse phase 2 interim results of IPH5201 in clinical trials plenary session at AACR 2026
MOLN.SW (Molecular Partners) -- presents three posters at AACR 2026, new preclinical data for first Switch-DARPin T cell engager MP0632 and DLL3 Radio-DARPin MP0712
ORNBV.FH (Orion) -- FDA grants orphan drug designation to Orion Corp for treatment of mesothelioma
CANTA.SS (Cantargia) -- announces AACR 2026 presentation of study design and supportive pre-clinical data for investigator-initiated Nadunolimab study in MSS CRC
Other
BP.LN (BP) -- Holders to target BP chairman Albert Manifold at this week's AGM - Mail on Sunday
ABF.LN (Associated British Foods) -- Holders fear Associated British Foods spinoff of Primark - Mail on Sunday
TGS.NO (TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co.) -- TGS extends multi-year Ocean Bottom Node contract
Estimated weekend box office revenues in US, Canada $92.6M, (31.8%) y/y - Box Office Mojo
Key rating changes
Upgrades
ALIV.SS (Autoliv) -- to buy from hold at ABG Sundal Collier
BESI.NA (BE Semiconductor Industries) -- to buy from neutral at Nomura
CCC.LN (Computacenter) -- to buy from hold at Peel Hunt
NESTE.FH (Neste) -- to accumulate from reduce at Inderes
TPRO.IM (Technoprobe) -- to buy from hold at Equita
BAER.SW (Julius Baer Group) -- to overweight from equal weight at Barclays
CBK.GR (Commerzbank) -- to overweight from equal weight at Barclays
UBSG.SW (UBS Group) -- to equal weight from underweight at Barclays
VSURE.SS (Verisure) -- to buy from neutral at Goldman Sachs
Downgrades
AKE.FP (Arkema) -- to hold from buy at Berenberg
LOOMIS.SS (Loomis) -- to neutral from buy at Goldman Sachs
SAN.FP (Sanofi) -- to neutral from outperform at BNP Paribas Exane
BBVA.SM (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria) -- to neutral from buy at UBS
NWG.LN (NatWest Group) -- to market perform from outperform at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods
ESSITY.B.SS (Essity) -- to underweight from neutral at JPMorgan
DBK.GR (Deutsche Bank) -- to equal weight from overweight at Barclays
Initiations
MRO.LN (Melrose Industries) -- re neutral at BNP Paribas Exane
TGS.NO (TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co.) -- buy at Goldman Sachs
LBIRD.FP (Lumibird) -- buy at Stifel
Data
Nikkei +0.59% to 58823.68
Hang Seng +0.41% to 26266.59
Shanghai Composite +0.48% to 4070.76
S&P futures (50.5) vs prior close of 7161.5
€-$ +0.0012 or +0.10% to 1.1754
$-¥ +0.16 or +0.10% to 158.95
€-¥ +0.37 or +0.20% to 186.81
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