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Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters
stocks reporters. You can share your thoughts with Thyagaraju Adinarayan
(thyagaraju.adinarayan@tr.com), Joice Alves (joice.alves@tr.com), Julien Ponthus
(julien.ponthus@tr.com) in London.
OPENING SNAPSHOT: BETS ON HOW LONG THIS RALLY COULD GO? (0823 GMT)
Hours, days, weeks? Write to me at thyagaraju.adinarayan@tr.com
Europe is open and is going strong at the moment (fingers crossed) with all the STOXX 600
sub-sectors trading comfortably in positive territory ahead of the G7 statement.
Hopes from the meeting to address calls for concrete or detailed government spending or
coordinated central bank rate cuts are however unlikely to be fulfilled, according to a G7
official.
Qiagen is topping the chart after Thermo Fisher launched a $12 billion acquisition
bid for the German genetic testing company.
Aggreko is the second biggest riser after the company said it sticks to its 2020
targets as preparations for Tokyo Olympics are "progressing well". The news temporarily cools
investors' worries that Olympics might be cancelled due to coronavirus.
(Thyagaraju Adinarayan)
*****
LOGITECH, INTERTEK ISSUE CORONA WARNINGS; GREGGS FOR BREAKFAST
Futures point to more than 1% gain for most of the European bourses, a far cry from a
rate-cut-hope rally in Wall Street last night, as economists question how effective would
monetary easing be in addressing the impact of coronavirus.
But that hasn't stopped U.S. President Trump from asking for one: "(The Fed) Should ease and
cut rate big". Market is also awaiting an update from G7 countries on their pledge to work
together to mitigate the damage to their economies from the fast-spreading epidemic.
Meanwhile, almost every single earnings update in Europe has a mention of coronavirus in it
and some have warned on a potential impact.
Swiss computer mice and keyboards maker Logitech and UK's Intertek warned
of supply problems from the coronavirus outbreak in China.
Robert Walters and Beiersdorf highlighted coronavirus concerns, but were
not precise about the impact form the virus. The British hiring firm's shares are seen falling
sharply down on uncertain outlook.
We're unlikely to see a major reaction in others given the steep sell-off in stock markets
over the last ten days.
Greggs shares for once could likely disappoint with muted reaction after the British baker
said it saw a significant slowdown in February due to widespread storms.
Other potential moves: Wirecard negative read-across from Visa warning;
semis on watch after Microchip Tech has withdrew prior guidance; HelloFresh seen
jumping after it confirmed better-than-expected 2019 results and forecast strong growth in 2020
(Thyagaraju Adinarayan)
*****
A RISE, BUT NOTHING CLOSE TO WALL STREET'S (0649 GMT)
Yes, we're staring at small gains at the open, but nothing close to Wall Street's 5% jump
last night as investors expect central banks to come to the rescue as coronavirus fears heighten
across the world.
Financial spreadbetters IG expect London's FTSE to open 67 points higher at 6,722,
Frankfurt's DAX to open 120 points higher at 12,010 and Paris' CAC to open 91 points higher at
5,401.
"It is still unclear how effective monetary and (the promise of) fiscal stimulus can be in
addressing the impact of coronavirus, hence the limited follow-through in Asia and Europe," says
Ian Williams, economics & strategy research analyst at Peel Hunt.
It's also Super Tuesday where a group of states hold primary elections on the same day.
If it goes well for Bernie Sanders, RBC Capital says it is "likely to unsettle stocks".
(Thyagaraju Adinarayan)
*****
(Reporting by Joice Alves, Julien Ponthus and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)
