Aug 21 ,2026
Synopsis
European equity markets are set to open marginally higher; follows softer performance on Thursday. Asian equity markets mixed. US equity futures firmer. US 10-year at 4.71% after Thursday's yield reversal. Dollar a bit softer. WTI crude down 0.6% at $86.30/bbl but remains near the highest levels in a month. Gold gains. Industrial metals higher. Bitcoin extends recent gains.
Bond selloff in focus after Treasury yields retraced most of Wednesday's pullback. Treasury Secretary Bessent said buybacks could be larger than what was announced, though Street skeptical actions will anchor yields longer term given structural drivers like fiscal deficits and debt remain largely intact. Analysts flag concerns over increased policy uncertainty and implications for Fed independence.
Energy prices remain elevated. Attention on financial measures against Iran. Trump has warned US would target countries that provide lifeline to Tehran. Some thoughts measures will be aimed at China, which is Iran's major trading partner. However, there is skepticism that it will challenge its economic links with Iran and create tensions before Trump hosts Xi in September.
On macro front in Europe, GfK UK consumer confidence hit two-year high ahead of retail sales update. UK Jul retail sales also out before open. Aug preliminary manufacturing/services PMI data on the agenda. Expectation is for moderation in Eurozone and UK readings. ECB consumer expectations survey and indicator of negotiated wages also out. Elsewhere, UK food and drink makers have called on PM Burnham to act on costs as European drought pushes up cost of key inputs.
Politics/Macro/World News
US says it will impose 'toughest sanctions in history' on Iran (Reuters )
UK Consumer Confidence climbs to two-year high, GfK survey shows (Bloomberg )
UK PM Burnham will divert 'significant' resources out of civil service, says No. 10 North chief (Politico )
Swiss voters are set to reject stricter neutrality, poll shows (Bloomberg )
Top company news
Earnings/updates
BAVA.DC (Bavarian Nordic A/S) -- Q2 net income DKK731.6M vs FactSet DKK267.8M [5 est, DKK211-372M]; raises FY Total revenue guidance; to launch new share buy-back program of up to DKK 750M
EVD.GR (CTS Eventim) -- Q2 EBIT €80.4M vs FactSet €81.8M [1 est]; confirms FY guidance
SFZN.SW (Siegfried Holding) -- H1 core net income CHF68.2M vs FactSet CHF68.2M [4 est, CHF65.9-70.5M]
FIE.GR (Fielmann Group) -- guides FY26 adj EBITDA €560M-580M vs prior guidance €590M-610M and FactSet €591.8M [9 est, €579.5-604M]
EGTX.SS (Egetis Therapeutics) -- Q2 EPS (SEK0.20) vs FactSet (SEK0.15) [1 est]
APETIT.FH (Apetit) -- Q2 EPS (€0.72) vs FactSet (€0.12) [2 est, (€0.12)-(0.12)]
AKAST.NO (Akastor) -- H1 net income NOK77M vs year-ago (NOK218M)
BETCO.SS (Better Collective) -- Q2 EPS €0.14 vs FactSet €0.15 [2 est, €0.12-0.17]
ODF.NO (Odfjell) -- Q2 EPS $0.68 vs FactSet $0.42 [4 est, $0.37-0.46]
SCATC.NO (Scatec) -- Q2 EPS (NOK0.41) vs year-ago NOK1.71; confirms FY guidance
SYNSAM.SS (Synsam) -- Q2 EPS SEK1.35 vs FactSet SEK1.12 [3 est, SEK1.03-1.19]
GRKP.SW (Graubeundner Kantonalbank) -- H1 consolidated profit CHF137.2M vs FactSet CHF120M [1 est]
M&A
MC.FP (LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton) -- L Catterton, backed by LVMH, to buy Financial Standard -- Nikkei Asian Review
HOLN.SW (Holcim) -- James Hardie (JHX.AU) to sell its sustainable walling and flooring solutions business Fermacell in Europe to Holcim for €840M (~$980M)
HSBA.LN (HSBC Holdings) -- Credit Corp. Group acquires HSBC's Australian credit card run-off book, consideration expected to be A$150M
IPN.FP (Ipsen) -- completes acquisition of Kartos Therapeutics; deal was announced 29-Jun
ICEAIR.IR (Icelandair Group) -- Icelandair completed the acquisition of a 49% stake in Fly Play Europe
APGN.SW (APG SGA) -- sells property at Bahnhöheweg 22 in 3080 Bern
TFIN.IM (Trevi-Finanziaria Industriale) -- I. CO. P. approves issuance of new shares in connection with offer to acquire Trevi-Finanziaria Industriale
Other
FRE.GR (Fresenius) -- raises ~ €300M through sale of 7.8M Medical Care shares
FCT.IM (Fincantieri) -- announces Viking exercises option for two new small cruise ships; contract value between €0.5-1.0B
HNSA.SS (Hansa Biopharma) -- announces confidential submission of draft registration statement to the SEC to allow for a potential listing of ADSs in the US
Key rating changes
Upgrades:
ORK.NO (Orkla) -- to hold from sell at DNB Carnegie
Downgrades:
ALFEN.NA (Alfen) -- to hold from buy at Jefferies
AVTX.NA (Avantium) -- to reduce from hold at Kepler Cheuvreux
GLE.FP (Societe Generale) -- to underperform from market perform at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods
HAUTO.NO (Höegh Autoliners) -- to hold from buy at Arctic Securities
MULTI.NO (Multiconsult) -- to hold from buy at SEB
ROCK.B.DC (Rockwool) -- to neutral from overweight at JPMorgan
Initiations:
JET2.LN (Jet2) -- buy at Kepler Cheuvreux
Other:
PPH.LN (PPHE Hotel Group) -- reinstated neutral at JPMorgan; prior rating was neutral
Data
Nikkei (0.66%) to 65783.03
Hang Seng +0.77% to 25897.28
Shanghai Composite (0.12%) to 3899.12
S&P futures +4.8 vs prior close of 7662.5
€-$ +0.0019 or +0.16% to 1.1700
$-¥ (0.22) or (0.14%) to 158.83
€-¥ +0.04 or +0.02% to 185.81
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