Aug 19 ,2024
Synopsis
European equity markets set to open mixed amidst mostly higher session in Asia and flat S&P 500 futures. Greater China markets outperforming with property developers notable gainers in Hong Kong. JGB yield curve bear steepening while Treasuries little changed. Yen strength the main development in FX markets. Offshore yuan strengthening alongside Aussie and kiwi, dollar steady elsewhere. Crude and gold seeing small declines. Bitcoin retreating after failure at $60K.
Focus this week turns to Riksbank interest rate decision, the annual Jackson Hole economic policy symposium, Eurozone, France, Germany and UK Aug flash manufacturing/services PMIs. Attention will also be on government formation negotiations in Belgium and who France's Macron will pick as the country's next Prime Minister. Reportedly, the French President is to meet with party leaders on Fri (23rd). Also, campaigning for next month's regional elections in the German states of Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia is putting strains on the stability of Chancellor Scholz's coalition government. On the agenda for today, deadline for Bart De Wever to report back to King Filip ( meeting 14:00 CET) on progress if Belgium government coalition talks. Chancellor Scholz speaks at the traditional reception of Stoppelmarkt, and in the evening hold the next Chancellor's TALK series in Bremen. Finland central bank's Rehn speech at 23:30CET at event hosted by EACCNY.
Little of note on the earnings and macro calendars for today.
Politics/Macro/World News
Interest rate cut fuels immediate upturn in UK property market (The Guardian)
UK Aug house price index +0.8% y/y vs prior +0.4%; (1.5%) m/m vs prior (0.4%); now sees 2024 +1% y/y vs prior (1%) - Rightmove
Starmer Faces Growing UK Strike Action in Next Test for Premier (Bloomberg)
Germany plans to cut Ukraine aid to just 6pc of current total (The Telegraph)
No respite for Turkey's economy as rates set to stay at 50% (Bloomberg)
Top company news
Earnings/updates
FLOW.NA (Flow Traders) -- July 2024 market statistics
GURN.SW (Gurit Holding) -- H1 EPS (CHF0.02) vs year-ago CHF1.54
BRNK.GR (Branicks Group) -- prelim H1 FFO €19.4M vs year-ago €22.4M; bridge financing reduced by a further €80M
M&A
ERIC.B.SS (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson) -- Ericsson announces sale of iconectiv to Koch Equity Development for ~SEK 10.6B ($1.0B)
EQT.SS (EQT AB) -- EQT in exclusive discussions to acquire Compass Education - Australian Financial Review
VAR1.GR (VARTA)
reaches agreement with financial creditors and strategic investors on a restructuring plan
Porsche (P911.GR) and Varta deepen strategic partnership
CVC.NA (CVC Capital Partners) -- among buyout firms preparing to submit bids for controlling stake in Grant Thornton UK - Sky News
Healthcare
BAVA.DC (Bavarian Nordic) -- Provides Statement on Mpox Vaccine Supply and Collaboration with African and Global Stakeholders (17-Aug)
HYL.BB (Hyloris Pharmaceuticals) -- secures a development partner for HY-095
4568.JP (Daiichi Sankyo) -- receives China NMPA approval for Enhertu for treatment of HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma
068270.KS (Celltrion) -- launches phase III trial of CTP13 in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Other
AHT.LN (Ashtead Group) -- Glass Lewis urges Ashtead shareholders to vote against plans for American-style executive packages - London Times
ACS.SM (ACS SA) -- ACS Group and Acciona to build and operate SR400 Express Lane in Atlanta, GA for 50 years
BWB.GR (Baader Bank) -- extends cooperation agreement in place with its B2B partner sino AG for several years
HSX.LN (Hiscox) -- calls on policymakers for better risk management of new building projects as insurers and reinsurers ramp up prices - FT, citing CEO
TGS.NO (TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co.) -- launches PAMA 3D Phase 1 survey in the Equatorial Margin of Brazil
Key rating changes
Upgrades
DEMANT.DC (Demant) -- to hold from reduce at Kepler Cheuvreux
EBRO.SM (Ebro Foods) -- to outperform from neutral at Santander
FFARM.NA (ForFarmers) -- to hold from reduce at Kepler Cheuvreu
HOLN.SW (Holcim) -- to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank
MT.NA (ArcelorMittal) -- to overweight from equal weight at Barclays
NIBE.B.SS (NIBE Industrier) -- to hold from sell at ABG Sundal Collier
TPK.LN (Travis Perkins) -- to add from hold at Peel Hunt
VWS.DC (Vestas Wind Systems) -- to neutral from underperform at BNP Paribas Exane
Downgrades
KARNEL.B.SS (Karnell Group) -- to hold from buy at SEB
VWS.DC (Vestas Wind Systems) -- to hold from buy at Deutsche Bank
SCATC.NO (Scatec) -- to hold from buy at SEB
OSB.LN (OSB Group) -- to hold from add at Peel Hunt
Initiations
HOLM.B.SS (Holmen) -- equal weight at Barclays
VIT.B.SS (Vitec Software Group) -- buy at Pareto
Other Actions
SGL.GR (SGL Carbon) -- transferred buy at Stifel; prior rating was buy
Data
Nikkei (1.75%) to 37394.75
Hang Seng +0.87% to 17581.74
Shanghai Composite +0.39% to 2890.55
S&P futures (0.3) vs prior close of 5578.3
€-$ +0.0020 or +0.18% to 1.1048
$-¥ (2.27) or (1.54%) to 145.43
€-¥ (2.20) or (1.35%) to 160.66
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