* European shares down 0.8%
* Travel stocks drag STOXX 600 to 3-month lows
* France tightens virus measures
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 Joice Alves (joice.alves@thomsonreuters.com)
and Julien Ponthus (julien.ponthus@thomsonreuters.com) in London and Stefano Rebaudo
(stefano.rebaudo@thomsonreuters.com) and Danilo Masoni (danilo.masoni@thomsonreuters.com) in
Milan.
M&A AMONG LARGE BANKS? TEMPTING BUT... (0934 GMT)
There's been a lot of talk about bank M&A recently and while some in-country consolidation
may indeed happen in the near future, big cross-border dealmaking, although tempting, faces
bigger challenges.
The European Central Bank has been consistent in advocating branch closure and mergers to
reverse a bleak outlook for profitability but large transactions are unlikely, according to a
Commerzbank research note by credit analyst for banks Nigel Myer.
"We are not convinced that M&A solves the underlying problems or improves the underlying
returns faced by large banks, and we see substantial hurdles to large scale combinations given
the regulatory and competition constraints," it says.
"Cross border transactions within the euro area remain constrained by an incomplete banking
union," and would be a reversal of the trend seen globally in the last decade, it adds.
"We recognise that 'more of the same' is not a very exciting or compelling strategy and the
temptation is likely growing to look at M&A."
The approach of eliminating overlapping branch networks still makes sense, "especially in
countries where branch density is high or system assets/employee are low.”
Excluding the UK and Luxembourg because for them this measure is significantly affected by
the number of international banks, Germany and Austria have the lowest concentration rate.
(Stefano Rebaudo)
*****
MIND THE GAP: BIG MINERS MAY PLAY CATCH UP (0821 GMT)
Citi has spotted a widening disconnect between Europe's big miners and the gains in the
underlying commodities that make the bulk of their earnings.
That means investors may remain bullish on the space despite a material recovery from the
bottom and prepare for some good dividend news later on. Citi sees a 38% upside this year's core
profit consensus estimate if current spot prices hold.
"Despite the share prices clawing their way back to pre-COVID-19 levels in most cases, the
significant increase (not just a recovery) in commodity prices YTD has not been priced into the
equities," analyst at the US bank say.
"The big-4 miners will generate around $41bn of FCF at spot commodity prices vs $31bn on our
house commodity price forecasts. Given the balance sheet position and payout ratio based
dividend policies of these companies, a significant proportion of that FCF is likely to come
back to shareholders as dividends next year as well," they add.
(Danilo Masoni)
*****
OPENING SNAPSHOT: TRAVEL STOCKS LEAD BROAD SELL-OFF (0725 GMT)
There's not one sector trading in the black at the start of trade with travel stocks
understandably leading the drop after France tightens measures to fight COVID-19, adding to
concerns over a faltering economic recovery.
Europe's Travel & Leisure index is down more than 2.3%, followed by oil and tech
stocks, both down nearly 2%.
In the defensive space, real estate and utilities shares were down less than 1%.
As a result the STOXX 600 was last down 0.9% after hitting its lowest level since
June 25.
Here's your snapshot:
(Danilo Masoni)
*****
ON OUR RADAR: EURO FUTURES HIT 14-WEEK LOW, TIGHTER VIRUS MEASURES (0649 GMT)
European shares are set to open down sharply after bid drops in Asia and Wall Street with
traders blaming growing worries over the economic recovery, as COVID-19 cases grow globally and
government impose new restrictive measures to counter a second wave of infections.
France's health minister unveiled a map of coronavirus "danger zones" around the country
late on Wednesday and gave the hardest-hit local authorities, including that of Marseille, days
to tighten restrictions or risk having a state of health emergency declared there.
Meanwhile Germany also issued travel warnings to further French regions.
It also looks that Powell's remark last night that the Fed "had basically done all of the
things it could think of" and fresh Korean tension aren't helping either.
Futures on the Euro STOXX 50 were down 1.4 at their lowest in around 14 weeks.
As a result of the new restrictions, travel and leisure stocks could be under pressure with
eyes on French stocks such as Elior and Accor. A report Delta Air Lines
is in talks with Airbus to delay at least 40 aircraft deliveries further
underscores the pain facing its virus-hit industry. Airbus shares are seen down 1-2%.
Eyes also on Atlantia ahead of a board meeting later today which is set to discuss
the spin-off of its motorway assets amid reports of ongoing disagreements with the government
over details of a deal.
In France, utility Suez took steps to rejig its water business as it fights a
hostile bid from local rival Veolia.
Meantime in Germany SNP Schneider shares were up 2.5% in early trade after news of
a partnership with Fujitsu.
In earnings, lower consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted UK water supplier
United Utilities to warn of lower first-half revenue.
(Danilo Masoni)
*****
MORNING CALL: DOWN WE GO (0538 GMT)
We're clearly set for a risk-off session in Europe today with stock index futures pointing
to losses of more than 1%. The magnitude of the falls could well drag the STOXX 600
benchmark down to its lowest level since June.
Wall Street closed sharply lower led by a more than 3% drop in the Nasdaq, while Asia isn't
of any inspiration with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
last down 1.9% on worries over the resilience of the economic recovery.
.
(Danilo Masoni)
*****
United Utilities (UU.)
