* European shares cruise higher
* STOXX 600 climbs back to April 2015 highs, up 0.3%
* Trump says U.S. China trade deal near
* Wall St at record levels on trade hopes, economic data
Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters
stocks reporters and anchored today by Joice Alves. Reach her on Messenger to share your
thoughts on market moves: rm://joice.alves.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
MORE LUXURY M&A AFTER LVMH/TIFFANY? (1552 GMT)
LVMH has quietly hit a new record high as investors celebrate the world's largest
luxury goods company's latest acquisition: that of U.S. jeweller Tiffany for $16.2 billion.
The takeover of Tiffany is surely a big deal - the biggest ever for the acquisitive French
giant - but the feeling among traders and executives is that luxury M&A has more room to go.
"Indeed there could be some consolidation within the sector," says Stephane Ekolo, equity
strategist at Tradition in London.
Maybe after LVMH it's time for another big name like Richemont or probably Kering
to take the initiative, as Michele Norsa, former CEO of Ferragamo, suggested
in a TV interview with Bloomberg today. shorturl.at/bemIZ
Separately, market chatter is keeping tabs on names ranging from turnaround story Burberry
to Italy's Ferragamo, Tod's and Moncler, according to a
M&A arbitrage trader.
(Danilo Masoni)
*****
MANUFACTURING TO DRIVE GROWTH IN 2020 (1146 GMT)
European manufacturing is likely to drive the global economy rebound going into next year
and the rationale behind that is: people keep buying and soon companies will have to start
restocking.
Growth will likely be led by a positive inventory cycle for manufacturers after a prolonged
period of slow activity while demand hasn't slowed that much, says John Stopford, head of multi
asset income at Investec Asset Management, which will soon be rebranded Ninety One.
"If demand holds up, you've got an inventory draw down which has to be restocked," he says
in an interview.
And the bounce back won't come from the U.S. as usual, he adds. "This time around, the
central growth is more likely to be Europe in particular, and to some extent Asia."
Here is some more for 2020:
- In the optimistic case, focus on some more cyclical equities
- More non U.S. equities over the rest of the world
- Opportunities surrounding decarbonisation, especially electric cars
(Joice Alves)
*****
IT'S NOT JUST CORBYN: WATER NATIONALISATION RISK IN ITALY? (1041 GMT)
Labour leader Corbyn has promised to nationalise rail, mail, water, and broadband but the
temptation to bring assets back into state hand is not confined to Britain.
Take Italy for example, where the ruling Five Star Movement has for long been canvassing to
bring water distribution back under state control. According to a report today in Il Sole 24
Ore, Five Star leader Di Maio is trying to get legislation on the matter approved in January.
But how real is that risk?
While water nationalisation would help unite Di Maio's fractious movement, it would likely
meet stiff resistance from its coalition Democratic Party partner, the paper said.
Also the cost of such move looks prohibitive: 15 billion euros.
"It seems difficult that the nationalization of the water sector (Daga law) can be approved
in this phase...", says Equita analyst Stefano Gamberini.
Anyhow, for future reference, here's the water exposure of Italian utilities, according to
Equita.
Acea (45% Ebitda)
Hera (25% Ebitda)
Iren (22% Ebitda)
A2A (5% Ebitda)
(Danilo Masoni and Stephen Jewkes)
*****
"WE SEE UPSIDE..." (0925 GMT)
Markets are buoyant this morning and it all boils down to Trump keeping the mood music on
trade positive.
And rather upbeat broker notes on what lies ahead next year are also playing a role in
keeping investors hopeful.
There's one this morning from Barclays strategists - fresh out of the press.
"We see upside for European equities in 2020," they say.
But then add: "investor nerves will continue to be tested amid lingering geopolitical
tail-risks and late-cycle fears."
"Still, we believe the improving growth policy trade-off, light positioning and relative
expensiveness of 'safe assets' will provide the preconditions for an extension of the equity
bull market into the delayed end of cycle."
So, what's their target for the STOXX 600 in 2020?
430 points - which would be a lifetime high for the pan-European index and is above the
median estimate of 420 (which also is a record) from a Reuters poll just published.
Have a look here: POLL-Trade and Brexit deals could push European stocks to record highs
(Danilo Masoni)
*****
OPENING SNAPSHOT: FLYING HIGH (0902 GMT)
European shares hit a four-year high at the opening after Trump said the U.S. and China are
close to a deal, which could end a prolonged trade war between the two countries.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index reached its highest since April 2015, led by
trade-sensitive miners, up 0.75%.
Among top movers, Virgin Money and Aroundtown are both up more than 3%
after better-than-expected results.
British soft drink company Britvic shares lead STOXX losers, down 3.1% after it
posted a 31% drop in its annual profit after tax, as the company grappled with a new law in
France and wrote down the value of some assets in the country.
Future shares are down almost 10% after share placement.
Here is a snapshot of European bourses:
(Joice Alves)
*****
EUROPEAN BOURSES SEEN HIGHER ON TRADE HOPES (0756 GMT)
Stock futures point to a slightly higher open for European bourses on hopes that China and
the U.S. are nearing a trade deal.
The pan European index STOXX 600 had three positive sessions since Friday on
reports that negotiations between Washington and Beijing are progressing with Trump saying that
the two countries are close to inking a deal.
On the corporate front, this week is calm after the storm with very few earnings updates
compared to the super busy past few weeks.
Despite a slowdown in the U.S. vaping market, British American Tobacco raised its
full-year revenue forecast today.
Not so well for pub operator Marston's, which cut its annual profit today, hurt by
lower food sales, rising costs and sluggish consumer spending.
Here are some other corporate headlines:
HSBC private banking sees double-digit asset, revenue growth on Asia boost
Epiroc appoints Helena Hedblom new CEO
GUESS WHAT? IT'S ALL ABOUT CHINA-US TRADE TALKS(0635 GMT)
European bourses are expected to extend gains as the U.S. and China trade talks seem to
progress after Donald Trump said yesterday that negotiators were close to inking an initial
deal.
Asian shares rose on hopes that the two countries will seal a deal ending months of trade
war.
The positive mood also pushed Wall Street indexes to fresh record closing highs yesterday,
and expectations the Federal Reserve will keep rates low underpinned sentiment.
Financial spreadbetters at IG expect London's FTSE to open 12 points higher at 7,415,
Frankfurt's DAX to open 30 points higher at 13,266 and Paris' CAC to open 14 points higher at
5,944.
(Joice Alves)
*****
(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Joice Alves, Julien Ponthus and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)
UK dividends calendar - next 7 days
Friday 21 June | |
abrdn Asia Focus PLC | dividend payment date |
Advanced Medical Solutions Group PLC | dividend payment date |
Andrews Sykes Group PLC | dividend payment date |
Avingtrans PLC | dividend payment date |
Cerillion PLC | dividend payment date |
Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust PLC | special dividend payment date |
Fevertree Drinks PLC | dividend payment date |
HSBC Holdings PLC | dividend payment date |
HSBC Holdings PLC | special dividend payment date |
Intertek Group PLC | dividend payment date |
Keystone Law Group PLC | dividend payment date |
LMS Capital PLC | dividend payment date |
Origin Enterprises PLC | dividend payment date |
PageGroup PLC | dividend payment date |
Riverstone Credit Opportunities Income PLC | dividend payment date |
Robinson PLC | dividend payment date |
Spire Healthcare Group PLC | dividend payment date |
TI Fluid Systems PLC | dividend payment date |
Tritax EuroBox PLC EUR | dividend payment date |
Tritax EuroBox PLC GBP | dividend payment date |
Vaalco Energy Inc | dividend payment date |
Monday 24 June | |
Aberforth Split Level Income Trust PLC | dividend payment date |
Bluefield Solar Income Fund Ltd | dividend payment date |
Coca-Cola HBC AG | dividend payment date |
Gemfields Group Ltd | dividend payment date |
Jersey Electricity PLC | dividend payment date |
M&C Saatchi PLC | dividend payment date |
Manx Financial Group PLC | dividend payment date |
Niox Group PLC | dividend payment date |
Shell PLC | dividend payment date |
Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund Ltd | dividend payment date |
Tuesday 25 June | |
Kingfisher PLC | dividend payment date |
Wednesday 26 June | |
CRH PLC | dividend payment date |
Tharisa PLC | dividend payment date |
Thursday 27 June | |
abrdn Equity Income Trust PLC | dividend payment date |
Alfa Financial Software Holdings PLC | dividend payment date |
B&M European Value Retail SA | ex-dividend payment date |
Berkeley Group Holdings PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
BlackRock Smaller Cos Trust PLC | dividend payment date |
BP Marsh & Partners PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
British American Tobacco PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
British Smaller Cos VCT PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Burberry Group PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Caledonia Investments PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Cardiff Property PLC | dividend payment date |
Chelverton UK Dividend Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Concurrent Technologies PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Ltd | ex-dividend payment date |
discoverIE Group PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Downing Strategic Micro-Cap Investment Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Ecofin US Renewables Infrastructure Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
F&C Investment Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Foresight Enterprise VCT PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Franchise Brands PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Hargreave Hale AIM VCT PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Helical PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
JPMorgan European Discovery Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
JPMorgan Global Emerging Marktes Income Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Lowland Investment Co PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Mears Group PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Mobeus Income & Growth 2 VCT PLC | dividend payment date |
Norcros PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Octopus AIM VCT 2 PLC | dividend payment date |
Octopus AIM VCT 2 PLC | special dividend payment date |
Panther Securities PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Personal Assets Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Premier Foods PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Renewi PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Residential Secure Income PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Serica Energy PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Sirius Real Estate Ltd | ex-dividend payment date |
Tatton Asset Management PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
TR Property Investment Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Urban Logistics REIT PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Value & Indexed Property Income Trust PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Vertu Motors PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
Virgin Money UK PLC | ex-dividend payment date |
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