LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: Stocks Climb As Fed Chair Calms Policy Nerves

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in Europe cautiously edged higher on Thursday, after remarks by US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell eased fears of a tightening of monetary policy.

Powell on Wednesday cautioned the US economy is a long way from a strong job market and the experience of past recessions shows it could take years to recover.

Societe Generale analyst Kit Juckes noted: "Before thinking about policy normalisation, he wants to see a return to full employment, a recovery in the employment participation, notably in participation among prime working-age people and minorities. In other words, he wants broad labour market participation and full employment because until that happens, Mr Powell doesn't think the Fed will have fulfilled its dual mandate."

Gains on Thursday came despite the European Commission slashing its growth forecast for 2021 amid a resurgence of Covid-19 infections.

London's blue-chip stock index was up 7.91 points, or 0.1%, at 6,532.27. The mid-cap FTSE 250 index fell 7.64 points to 20,988.80. The AIM All-Share index was up 2.02 points, or 0.2%, at 1,213.53.

The Cboe UK 100 index was up 0.1% at 648.85. The Cboe 250 was down 0.2% at 18,473.52 and the Cboe Small Companies was down 0.2% at 12,664.94.

In mainland Europe, the CAC 40 in Paris was marginally higher and the DAX 30 in Frankfurt was up 0.6%.

The pound was quoted at USD1.3825, down from USD1.3845 at the London equities close on Wednesday.

The euro stood at USD1.2129, down from USD1.2135 at the European equities close.

The EU lowered its growth forecast for 2021 as the coronavirus pandemic kept much of Europe under restrictions, but Brussels insisted that a powerful rebound was near.

The European Commission said GDP growth in the 19 countries that use the euro would hit 3.8% this year, with the recovery coming later than originally hoped.

This was down from the 4.2% for 2021 forecast in November.

But Brussels gave a sharp boost to its prediction for growth next year, upping it to 3.8% from 3.0% earlier.

Against the yen, the dollar fetched JPY104.72, up from JPY104.66.

Traders will also have an eye on this week's jobless claims data from the US, released at 1330 GMT.

New claims are expected to be 757,000, a fall from 779,000 last week.

Stocks in New York are set to open higher on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 are called up 0.3% and the Nasdaq Composite up 0.5%.

In London, "financials are a laggard today" after German lender Commerzbank posted a record fourth-quarter loss and laid out plans to cut 7,500 jobs, CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson noted.

"The dividend has also been scrapped while the bank has said it will close half of its retail branches, and close 30% of its overseas operations in a move that has all the hallmarks of a hatchet job in order to cut EUR1.4 billion of annual costs, and reduce headcount by 10,000 over the next two years," Hewson added.

Commerzbank said it will reduce 10,000 full-time employees, but noted that, at the same time, it plans the recruitment of around 2,500 full-time positions is planned, meaning a net reduction of 7,500 jobs. The stock was down 6.0% in Frankfurt on Thursday afternoon.

London-listed lenders Lloyds, Barclays and NatWest were down 1.3%, 1.4% and 1.6% respectively. In addition, Investec cut NatWest to Sell from Hold.

The UK banking sector's fourth-quarter reporting season kicks off next week, starting with Barclays on Thursday and NatWest on Friday.

Among the mid-caps, SSP Group was the worst performer. Shares in the Upper Crust owner fell 6.8%.

Late Wednesday, it said it was mulling an equity raise. Earlier that day, the Financial Times reported the travel concession stand operator was planning to raise up to GBP500 million through a rights issue.

JD Wetherspoon fell 2.3% after Peel Hunt cut the stock to Reduce from Hold.

The pub operator's peer Marston's slumped 13% to 86.46 pence. Platinum Equity Advisors said it does not intend to submit a revised takeover bid for the pub company.

At the start of the month, Marston's said it had rejected Platinum's unsolicited 105p per share takeover approach.

Travel stocks came under more pressure on Thursday. British Airways parent International Consolidated Airlines Group fell 1.4%, easyJet was down 1.5% and Ryanair 0.8%.

The rollout of coronavirus vaccines is "absolutely essential" for summer holidays to take place, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

His comments come a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned it was "too early for people to be certain about what we will be able to do this summer", and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps claimed "people shouldn't be booking holidays right now".

Holidays are banned under the UK's Covid-19 lockdown, but the travel industry is desperate for rules to be relaxed in time for the vital summer season.

In New York on Thursday, eyes will be on first-quarter results from Walt Disney as the US earnings calendar continues. Focus will be on the firm's streaming offering, a rival to Netflix and Amazon.com Inc's Prime Video.

Brent oil was quoted at USD61.04 a barrel midday on Thursday, down from USD61.40 at the London equities close on Wednesday.

Gold was quoted at USD1,842.09 an ounce, up from USD1,837.45.

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.