Vodafone Share News (VOD)

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 and Danilo Masoni (danilo.masoni@tr.com) in Milan.


OPENING SNAPSHOT: CORONAVIRUS WARNINGS, SIEMENS, IMPERIAL (0830 GMT)
We're back to coronavirus plays with sectors such as luxury/retail and travel & leisure
underperforming the broader market.
As expected, losses in those sectors were led by Adidas and Puma, both
down 1.5%, after Nike's warning overnight on the financial impact from coronavirus in
China.
In earnings-related moves, Imperial Brands is the top faller sliding 9.6% after the tobacco
group said FDA's decision to ban vaping flavours is seen taking a toll on its annual profits.
Larger rival BAT down 1.1%.
Danish hearing aid maker GN Store tops the risers list +7.7% to record highs after
its fourth quarter profit easily beats estimates.
Siemens is dragging down the European blue-chip index STOXX 50 after its industrial
profits came well below estimates.
Here's your STOXX 600 opening snapshot:



(Thyagaraju Adinarayan)
*****


ON OUR RADAR: SIEMENS, IMPERIAL, ADIDAS & PUMA (0752 GMT)
It's a busy earnings day here in Europe with reports coming from banks to industrials to
tech. So far the picture has been slightly negative with some major misses and stock futures for
now point to slight declines after yesterday's stunning risk-on rally.
Siemens tops the disappointments list after the German industrial conglomerate
reports a sharp drop in industrial profits due to the ongoing downturn in European manufacturing
sector, prompting traders to call its shares 4% to 5% lower.
Warning from Imperial Brands that it expects lower profits this fiscal year due to
the U.S. regulatory ban on some flavours of cartridge-based vapour devices is seen pushing its
shares down 3% to 5%.
Footwear makers Adidas and Puma are likely to come under pressure after
Nike warned that the deadly coronavirus may have a financial impact on its operations.
Adidas has the largest exposure to mainland China.
In the UK, housebuilder Barratt Developments is seen rising 2% after solid
first-half and strong sales rate in January. Britain's biggest pizza delivery company Domino's
reported strong fourth quarter sales.
Other notable moves: BNP Paribas seen slightly higher after reporting profit beat
on strong fixed income/equity trading; Infineon reports in-line numbers in seasonally
weak Q1; Novo Nordisk reports inline results but outlook disappoints, dealers see
shares down 1%; Qiagen seen 5% higher after Q4 earnings beat.

Other key headlines to digest:
France's Vinci eyes further revenue, profit growth in 2020
China lab seeks patent on use of Gilead's coronavirus treatment
ABB Q4 profit tops estimates, sees higher operating margin
Novo Nordisk sees slower growth this year vs 2019
Budget carrier Ryanair ordered to drop low-emissions ad claims
Stainless steel maker Outokumpu posts Q4 profit fall, sees better Q1
Vodafone posts 0.8% third-quarter growth, driven by South Africa

(Thyagaraju Adinarayan)
*****

EUROPE ON BACKFOOT ON BUSY EARNINGS DAY (0646 GMT)
European stocks are seen opening slightly lower after a stunning risk-on rally on Tuesday
which wiped off year-to-date losses caused by the coronavirus.
Bourses are seen opening 0.2% to 0.4% lower amid fading optimism that China's additional
stimulus would cushion the economic blow from the virus which has claimed nearly 500 lives so
far.
In corporate news, it's a busy earnings day here and so far we have: Infineon Tech
reporting in-line results, BNP Paribas' Q4 profit beating estimates and
industrial conglomerate Siemens profits taking a hit from a downturn in the
manufacturing sector.

(Thyagaraju Adinarayan)
*****


(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Joice Alves, Julien Ponthus and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)