Jun 19 ,2026
Synopsis
European equity markets set for a softer open. Note markets in Finland and Sweden are closed today for Midsummer Day holiday. Asian equities lower in quiet Friday trade with several markets offline for public holidays. US equities close higher overnight with futures weakening afterhours; note US markets are closed today for Juneteenth. Bonds little changed. Attention on Gilt moves on leadership speculation. Dollar firmer. Oil steady with WTI crude near $76/bbl. Gold more than 2% lower. Industrial metals weaker. Bitcoin down more than 2%.
Markets have largely shaken off hawkish Fed takeaways with yields backing down amid oil pullback after US and Iran formally signed MoU to end conflict. While signing was widely expected, the expected ramp in Strait of Hormuz shipping activity, moves by Gulf states to restart production and prospect of unsanctioned Iranian supply hitting market have helped heaped pressure on oil prices. Oil supply relief seems to be overshadowing skepticism about final agreement being reached after 60 days.
Focus to be on the results of the results of the Makerfield byelection in the UK where Andy Burnham has won by a huge majority. Labour has won 54% of the vote to Reform UK's 35%, while Restore Britain has 7%. Burnham is widely expected to make a formal bid for Labour leadership role in the coming days.
On the agenda for today, in central banks, ECB's Lane, Bank of Italy's Balassone, Bank of Spain's Escrivá, ECB's Cipollone, ECB Elderson, Ireland central bank's Kincaid speak at various events. Norway's PM Støre semi-annual summary press conf at 11:30CET. Norges Bank tipped to raise rates later in the summer. In addition, SNB seen on the sidelines well into 2027 and highlighted reduced risk of FX intervention.
Light in scheduled corporate releases. On the macro calendar, Germany May PPI and UK May retail sales due at 7:00 BST. UK GfK consumer confidence remained downbeat with an unchanged (23) reading in June.
Politics/Macro/World News
UK:
Geopolitics:
Top company news
Earnings/updates
HBH.GR (Hornbach Holding) -- Q1 EPS €6.24 vs year-ago €6.62
ZEHN.SW (Zehnder Group) -- introduces divisional organizational structure with separation of European ventilation and radiator operations; reaffirms medium-term targets
M&A
ENT.LN (Entain) -- considering options for CEE, including possible sale - Reuters
HOLN.SW (Holcim) -- completes acquisition of Xella
LOOMIS.SS (Loomis) -- to acquire Transportadora del Interior S.A
RF.FP (Eurazeo) -- acquires majority stake in Lauralu from Evolem
Other
ASML.NA (ASML Holding) -- US expresses concern to ASML that its EUV machines may have made its way into China - Bloomberg
EQT.SS (EQT AB) -- exits remaining stake in Beijer Ref
EXO.NA (EXOR) -- announces Benoît Ribadeau-Dumas appointed as Deputy CEO, resignation of COO Suzanne Heywood
TFI.FP (TF1) -- TF1+ and the Group's channels are now available on Netflix in France
UTG.LN (UNITE Group) -- holder placing ~36.2M shares at between 505-515p/share - Reuters citing bookrunner
ASCN.SW (Ascom Holding) -- completes its share buyback program launched on 30-May-25
KAMBI.SS (Kambi Group) -- initiates SEK 100M share buyback program
AVIO.IM (Avio) -- announces new order for over 35M€ with MBDA
Key rating changes
Upgrades
BYS.SW (Bystronic) -- to neutral from sell at UBS
BAER.SW (Julius Baer Group) -- to market perform from underperform at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods
UBSG.SW (UBS Group) -- to market perform from underperform at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods
GETI.B.SS (Getinge) -- to buy from neutral at Sparebank 1 Markets
HOLN.SW (Holcim) -- to outperform from neutral at BNP Paribas Exane
SIKA.SW (Sika Group) -- to neutral from underweight at JPMorgan
Downgrades
ADM.LN (Admiral Group) -- to sector perform from outperform at RBC Capital Markets
Data
Nikkei (0.59%) to 70634.57
Hang Seng closed
Shanghai Composite closed
S&P futures (46.0) vs prior close of 7570.8
€-$ (0.0028) or (0.24%) to 1.1430
$-¥ (0.02) or (0.02%) to 161.35
€-¥ (0.47) or (0.25%) to 184.42
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