Apr 27 ,2026
Synopsis
European equity markets set to open mostly flat to higher after last week's losses when the STOXX Europe 600 snapped a five-week winning streak, closing over (2.5%) lower. Asian equities mostly seeing gains Monday. Pickup in risk sentiment attributed to report Iran offered US counterproposal to break deadlock. Another tech-led rally with Japan, South Korean and Taiwan benchmarks outperforming. Crude off earlier highs amid latest diplomatic developments. Gold and silver coming off lows.
This week sees ECB, Fed and BOE interest rate decisions, Q1 preliminary GDPs, Apr preliminary CPIs from across the region as well as earnings/updates from the likes of Airbus (AIR.FP), Assa Abloy (ASSA.B.SS), AstraZeneca (AZN.LN), Banco Santander (SAN.SM), Barclays (BARC.LN), BASF (BAS.GR), bp (BP.LN), Iberdrola (IBE.SM), Novartis (NOVN.SW), Prudential (PRU.LN), Stellantis (STLAM.IM), TotalEnergies (TTE.FP), UBS Group (UBSG.SW) and Unilever (ULVR.LN).
European macro data releases out today include Germany May consumer confidence - GfK, UK Apr distributive trades - CBI
In central banks, ECB's Schnabel panallist at 18:30CET at joint Karlspreis and Helmut Kohl Foundation event "Blossoming Landscapes 2.0 - A New Agenda for Europe". Elsewhere, meeting of EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council takes place whilst EU's Kallas co-chairs the 25th EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting (through Tue) and EU's Hoekstra participates in the Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels conf (through Wed). In the UK, parliamentary committee topics include northern powerhouse rail at 15:30BST and revisiting the nuclear roadmap at 16:00.
On the corporate front today, in M&A news, Apollo funds to acquire Forvia's Interiors group based on EV of €1.82B; Intertek Group rejects previously disclosed acquisition offer from EQT; E.ON looking at buying Ovo Energy, according to Sky News; Whitbread likely to sell, lease back 20% of its freehold Premier Inn hotels, reports Sunday Times. In earnings/updates, Nordex reports broadly better than expected results for Q1, confirms FY26 guidance. In key broker rating changes, stocks that have been upgraded include Commerzbank and Orsted while Sainsbury, ABB and Wizz Air among those that have been downgraded.
Politics/Macro/World News
Iran gave US new proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz and end the war, with nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage -- Axios
Rachel Reeves set for new growth push after May elections (FT)
Major City reforms to be set out in King's Speech (FT)
BoE expected to keep interest rates on hold on Thursday; MPC seen voting 8-1 for no change -- Reuters poll
Iran war leads to halving of predicted house price growth in UK (Time s)
Slovakia Downgraded To 'A' On Elevated Fiscal Deficits And Rising Debt Burden; Outlook Stable -- S&P
Belgium Long-Term Sovereign Ratings Lowered To 'AA-' On Budgetary Imbalances; Outlook Stable -- S&P
King's visit to 'revitalise' relationship with US, says UK ambassador -- BBC
Top company news
Earnings/updates
NDX1.GR (Nordex) -- reports Q1 net income €53.6M vs FactSet €42.9M [3 est, €33-48.6M]; FY26 guidance confirmed
EXENS.FP (Exosens) -- reports Q1 revenue +19.7% y/y to €122.6M vs FactSet €119.6M [1 est]; fully on track to deliver on 2026 guidance
Also reporting today
Earnings:
DACHs: Deutsche Börse (DB1.GR), Südzucker (SZU.GR), Addex Therapeutics (ADXN.SW)
Nordics: Alleima (ALLEI.SS), VBG Group (VBG.B.SS), Fenix Outdoor International (FOI.B.SS), Devyser Diagnostics (DVYSR.SS), Aspo (ASPO.FH), Framery Group (FRAMERY.FH)
Southern Europe: Galp Energia (GALP.PL), Linea Directa Aseguradora (LDA.SM), Iberpapel Gestion (IBG.SM), Sogefi (SGF.IM)
UK: Bango (BGO.LN), Power Probe (PWR.LN)
Trading Update:
France: Nacon (NACON.FP)
M&A
FRVIA.FP (Forvia) -- Apollo funds to acquire Forvia's Interiors group based on EV of €1.82B ($2.13B) (
ITRK.LN (Intertek Group) -- rejects previously disclosed acquisition offer from EQT
EOAN.GR (E.ON) -- looking at buying Ovo Energy; terms unreported - Sky News
WTB.LN (Whitbread) -- likely to sell, lease back 20% of its freehold Premier Inn hotels - Sunday Times
GET.FP (Getlink) -- holder Mundys exercises right to acquire up to 25.0% of share capital and 29.9% of voting rights
Healthcare
NOVN.SW (Novartis) -- Rhapsido receives European Commission approval as first oral targeted treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria
PFE (Pfizer) -- case against Cipla dismissed; one defendant remains in tafamidis IP suit
BBIO (BridgeBio Pharma) -- trading higher following incremental settlement in tafamidis (PFE) IP case
ANAB (AnaptysBio) -- Anaptys announces that Delaware Chancery Court dismissed Tesaro's anticipatory breach claim
BANB.SW (Bachem Holding) -- AG announces closing of RCF of CHF 500M
CANTA.SS (Cantargia) -- announces early results from the ongoing Phase 1b/2a clinical trial evaluating nadunolimab in MDS and AML
CRNA.NO (Circio Holding) -- announces that the ongoing feasibility study with a major global pharmaceutical corporation is progressing to in vivo testing
CRNA.NO (Circio Holding) -- cancels previously planned subsequent offering of shares
OSE.FP (OSE Immunotherapeutics) -- announces FDA grants Orphan Drug Designation to pegrizeprument (VEL‑101) for the prophylaxis of heart allograft rejection in patients receiving a heart transplant
Other
ERF.FP (Eurofins Scientific) -- Eurofins launches new buyback program for up to 4.5% of its share capital
CO.FP (Casino Guichard-Perrachon) -- announces extension of consent from Quatrim creditors
SFOR.LN (S4 Capital) -- releases 2025 Annual Report (includes sustainability report on page 27)
BP shareholders reject effort to reduce climate reporting while overall ESG-shareholder proposals fall (24-Apr)
Estimated weekend box office revenues in US, Canada $150.8M, +2.8% y/y - Box Office Mojo
Uber legal risks widen after second verdict for assault claims in litigation themes (24-Apr)
Key rating changes
Upgrades
CBK.GR (Commerzbank) -- to buy from neutral at BofA
ORSTED.DC (Ørsted) -- to buy from neutral at Goldman Sachs
DIM.FP (Sartorius Stedim Biotech) -- to buy from hold at Intron Health
S32.LN (South32) -- to outperform from neutral at BNP Paribas Exane
SRT3.GR (Sartorius) -- to buy from hold at Berenberg
KGF.LN (Kingfisher) -- to equal weight from underweight at Barclays
GRNG.SS (Gränges) -- to buy from hold at Kepler Cheuvreux
LIFCO.B.SS (Lifco) -- to buy from hold at SEB
HUM.SS (Humana AB) -- to buy from hold at SEB
Downgrades
WIZZ.LN (Wizz Air Holdings) -- to reduce from hold at Kepler Cheuvreux
CAST.SS (Castellum AB) -- to hold from buy at Pareto
SBRY.LN (J Sainsbury) -- to sell from buy at Goldman Sachs
TOM.NO (Tomra Systems) -- to hold from buy at Handelsbanken
MYCR.SS (Mycronic) -- to hold from buy at ABG Sundal Collier
NEXI.IM (Nexi SpA) -- to underperform from neutral at BofA
ABBN.SW (ABB Limited) -- to hold from buy at Kepler Cheuvreux
Data
Nikkei +1.46% to 60590.47
Hang Seng (0.32%) to 25893.97
Shanghai Composite +0.08% to 4083.35
S&P futures (3.3) vs prior close of 7194.8
€-$ +0.0023 or +0.20% to 1.1724
$-¥ (0.19) or (0.12%) to 159.40
€-¥ +0.14 or +0.07% to 186.86
WTI Crude (Jun 26): +$1.56 or +1.65% to $95.96
Gold (Jun 26): ($13.80) or (0.29%) to $4727.10
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