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ON THE RADAR: TOTAL, SWISS RE, SPANISH BANKS (0738 GMT)
European stocks are set to open sharply lower as worries
about possible new lockdowns coupled with risks of a contested
outcome of U.S. elections rattle investors.
A batch of positive results is not giving much support.
Swiss Re stocks are up 0.5% in premarket trade as
the reinsurance company reported a smaller-than-expected net
loss in the first nine months after booking claims and reserves
of $3 billion related to COVID-19.
Total trimmed its investment target for 2020,
though the group returned to profit in the third quarter and
maintained its dividend.
The pandemic hit results of Spanish banks, which however
came out better than expected.
Banco Sabadell's third-quarter net profit fell 77%
from a year ago due to higher provisions but beat forecast,
while the lender announced an efficiency plan.
Caixabank posted a net profit of 522 million euros
versus analysts’ expectations of 319 million euros.
BBVA net profit beat market expectations, but was
down 6.9% from the same period a year ago to 1.14 billion euros
on more loan loss provisions.
Air France-KLM unveiled a 1.05 billion-euro better
than expected operating loss and warned of worse to come as a
resurgent coronavirus brings new travel curbs.
Shares in LafargeHolcim are up 0.7% after the
company raised its guidance, after results.
Proximus reported Ebitda above analysts
expectations and raised its full year guidance.
Amundi reported a high level of net inflows and
an operating income of 307 million euros.
BP plans to stop producing fuel in Australia and will
convert its loss-making Kwinana oil refinery, the biggest of the
country's four.
Julius Baer Gruppe plans to set up business in
China in partnership with a local financial firm.
Lonza Group agreed with AstraZeneca to make
AZD7442 an experimental combination of two antibodies that may
be used to prevent and treat COVID-19.
(Stefano Rebaudo)
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EUROPE'S STOCK FUTURES WELL IN THE RED (0628 GMT)
European stock futures are sharply lower as record numbers
of coronavirus cases across the world and the outcome of U.S.
elections remain the major concern for investors.
The ECB signalling it will provide more stimulus to fight
the impact of the pandemic gave some support to stocks yesterday
but wasn’t far from analysts’ expectations.
U.S. stock futures are down around 2%, after a positive
session on Wall Street, helped by quarterly reports from tech
giants and solid GDP data.
(Stefano Rebaudo)
*****
