Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters
stocks reporters. You can share your thoughts Joice Alves (joice.alves@thomsonreuters.com) and
Julien Ponthus (julien.ponthus@thomsonreuters.com) in London and Stefano Rebaudo
(stefano.rebaudo@thomsonreuters.com) in Milan.
OPENING SNAPSHOT: RISK-ON SESSION AFTER THE ECB MOVE
Another risk-on session is on its way, after the ECB boosted its Pandemic emergency purchase
program (PEPP) by 600 billion euros spreading confidence across global markets.
"Recent signals of commitment by European policymakers, political leaders, the EU Commission
and the ECB to spur the eurozone economic recovery are impressive," a Unicredit research note
says.
"A 'whatever it takes' mindset continues under the Lagarde presidency," according to Chris
Bailey, European Strategist at Raymond James.
The STOXX 600 is up 1.3% with banks rising 3.5% and insurers, carmakers and the travel and
leisure sectors all up more than 2.5%.
Healthcare, which outperformed other industries during the crisis, is up 0.2%. AstraZeneca
is flat after saying it would be able to supply more than two billion doses of its potential
coronavirus vaccine.
IAG shares are the best performers in the Stoxx 600. The boss of its unit British
Airways said it was burning through 178 million pounds a week and urged unions to engage over
12,000 job cuts.
(Stefano Rebaudo)
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ON THE RADAR: ASTRAZENECA AND LUFTHANSA (0645 GMT)
European equities are set to open in the black, on expectations of a solid recovery from the
coronavirus crisis after the ECB pledged extra money in its Pandemic emergency purchase program
(PEPP).
Some investors might be cautious ahead of today's U.S. nonfarm payroll data.
On the corporate front, the pandemic is still holding the stage. AstraZeneca said it
would be able to supply more than two billion doses of its potential coronavirus vaccine, thanks
to a string of manufacturing deals including one with Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness
Innovations (CEPI)
The container shipping industry, which includes heavyweights like Maersk, MSC and
Hapag-Lloyd, faces its biggest downturn since the 2008 financial crisis.
Stobart will exit its rail and civil engineering business this fiscal year under a
plan to offset a hit from the coronavirus crisis
Lufthansa, hit hard by the coronavirus and taking a 9 billion euro state bailout,
is being removed from the country's benchmark blue-chip DAX index.
Norwegian Air's passenger volume fell by 97.8% in May from a year ago as most of
its fleet remained grounded amid restrictions to halt the pandemic.
Eni is creating a division to focus on renewable energy, as part of a corporate
reorganisation.
Lonza Group named Roche executive Pierre-Alain Ruffieux as its new chief executive
. Clas Ohlson said Its chief executive Lotta Lyra was leaving the company
to take on another top job in a different industry. Hugo Boss is in talks with
Daniel Grieder for ther position of CEO.
Taylor Wimpey has seen a surge in interest in buying homes in May and the company has
seen fewer cancellations in Britain's 9-week lockdown than in the same period last year.
(Stefano Rebaudo and Joice Alves)
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MORNING CALL: FUTURES BACK IN THE BLACK (0539 GMT)
European stocks are poised to open higher, after holding the line yesterday after the ECB
pledged extra cash to its Pandemic emergency purchase program (PEPP).
Even if equities paused for a breather yesterday after a 35% bounce back since mid-March,
the sentiment remains positive while the easing in lockdowns continues and hopes of a swift
economic recovery rise.
Investors will be cautious ahead of today's U.S. nonfarm payroll data, which is expected to
show a fall of 8 million jobs in May after a record 20.54 million plunge in April.
(Stefano Rebaudo)
*****
