Mε τις μετοχές του τεχνολογικού κλάδου να δέχονται τις περισσότερες πιέσεις, μετά από την απόφαση της κυβέρνησης της Κίνας να απαγορεύσει την χρήση των κινητών τηλεφώνων της Apple iPhone στους εργαζόμενους της κυβέρνησης.
Το κλίμα αβεβαιότητας ενίσχυσε και η ήπια ανάπτυξη που κατέγραψε η οικονομία της ευρωζώνης στο δεύτερο τρίμηνο, σύμφωνα με τα προσωρινά στοιχεία που ανακοινώθηκαν σήμερα, καθώς και για την υποχώρηση της βιομηχανικής παραγωγής στην Γερμανία για τον μήνα Ιούλιο, με την προσοχή να παραμένει στραμμένη στην συνεδρίαση της ΕΚΤ την επόμενη Πέμπτη.
Στην Βρετανία ο δείκτης τιμών κατοικιών Halifax για τον μήνα Αύγουστο, υποχώρησε 1,9% έναντι εκτιμήσεων για υποχώρηση 0,3% και υποχώρησης 0,4% τον προηγούμενο μήνα, ενώ σε ετήσια βάση πραγματοποίησε πτώση 4,6% έναντι εκτιμήσεων για πτώση 3,5% και πτώσης 2,5% το προηγούμενο έτος.
Στην Γερμανία η βιομηχανική παραγωγή για τον μήνα Ιούλιο, υποχώρησε 0,8% έναντι εκτιμήσεων για υποχώρηση 0,5% και υποχώρησης 1,4% τον προηγούμενο μήνα.
Στην ευρωζώνη τα προσωρινά στοιχεία για το ΑΕΠ δευτέρου τριμήνου, έδειξαν αύξηση 0,1% έναντι εκτιμήσεων για αύξηση 0,3% και αύξησης 0,1% το προηγούμενο τρίμηνο, ενώ σε ετήσια βάση πραγματοποίησε αύξηση 0,5% έναντι εκτιμήσεων για αύξηση 0,6% και αύξησης 1,1% το προηγούμενο έτος.
Η γαλλική κυβέρνηση προέβη σήμερα στην έκδοση ομολόγου δεκαετούς ομολόγου, με το κουπόνι να διαμορφώνεται στο 3,15% από 3,09% της αντίστοιχης προηγούμενης έκδοσης.
Ο δείκτης Eurostoxx 600 έκλεισε στις 453,68 μονάδες με απώλειες 0,14%.
Στην Φρανκφούρτη ο δείκτης DAX έκλεισε στις 15.719,15 μονάδες με απώλειες 0,14%, παραμένοντας με σήμα strong sell, με την αντίσταση να βρίσκεται στις 16,144 μονάδες και την στήριξη στις 15.594 μονάδες.
Μεγαλύτερη άνοδος
Μεγαλύτερη πτώση
Στο Λονδίνο ο δείκτης FTSE 100 έκλεισε στις 7.441,18 μονάδες με άνοδο 0,20%, παραμένοντας με σήμα neutral, με την αντίσταση να βρίσκεται στις 7.531 μονάδες και την στήριξη στις 7.262 μονάδες.
Μεγαλύτερη άνοδος
Μεγαλύτερη πτώση
Στο Παρίσι ο δείκτης CAC 40 έκλεισε στις 7.196,10 μονάδες με οριακά κέρδη 0,03%, παραμένοντας με σήμα strong sell, με την αντίσταση να βρίσκεται στις 7.438 μονάδες και την στήριξη στις 7.167 μονάδες.
Μεγαλύτερη άνοδος
Μεγαλύτερη πτώση
Recommendations
Airbus: Jefferies analyst Chloe Lemarie maintains his Neutral opinion on the stock. The target price is still set at EUR 130.
Airbus: Berenberg’s analyst Philip Buller maintains his Sell rating on the stock. The target price continues to be set at EUR 100.
Unicredit: Analyst Delphine Lee from JP Morgan research considers the stock attractive and recommends it with a Buy rating. The target price is still set at EUR 30.
Intesa Sanpaolo: In a research note published by Delphine Lee, JP Morgan advises its customers to buy the stock. Previously set at EUR 3.50, the target price is lowered to EUR 3.20.
Novo Nordisk: In a research note, JP Morgan analyst Richard Vosser has maintained his recommendation on the stock with a Buy rating. The target price has been revised upwards and is now set at DKK 1500, compared with DKK 1200 previously.
Scout24: In a research note published by Giles Thorne, Jefferies advises its customers to buy the stock. The target price is set at 72.50 versus 71.00 EUR.
Safran: JP Morgan analyst David Perry maintains his Buy rating on the stock. No major update to the target price set at EUR 170 compared to EUR 175.
Εταιρικά νέα
Smurfit Kappa Group has confirmed that it is in talks with WestRock Co. over a potential merger. Late on Wednesday the Wall Street Journal reported that the companies were in talks about a move that would create a global paper and packaging powerhouse worth some $20 billion. London and Dublin-listed Smurfit Kappa said on Thursday that the two companies were discussing the key terms of a potential combination to create Smurfit WestRock, a “global leader in sustainable packaging.” The talks involve a new company–Smurfit WestRock–being created through the combination of Smurfit Kappa with a subsidiary of Westrock. WestRock shareholders would receive shares in the combined group. If the merger were to complete then Smurfit WestRock would be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Smurfit Kappa’s premium listing on the London Stock Exchange would be cancelled and the combined group would be lost on the standard segment of the LSE. Smurfit Kappa’s listing on the Euronext Dublin would be cancelled. “Discussions between the parties remain ongoing regarding the potential combination. Smurfit Kappa and WestRock are engaged in a mutual due diligence process,” Smurfit Kappa said. For the year ended June 30 the combined companies had revenue of $34 billion and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $5.5 billion.
Nestle said it has reached a deal with Advent International to buy a majority stake in Brazilian chocolate company Grupo CRM for an undisclosed sum, in a bid to bolster its confectionery presence there. The Swiss consumer-goods giant said the deal will allow it to enter the high-end segment of the Brazilian market. Grupo CRM operates more than 1,000 chocolate boutiques under the Kopenhagen and Brasil Cacau brands and has a growing online presence, Nestle said. Renata Moraes Vichi will continue to lead Grupo CRM as chief executive and will remain a minority shareholder, Nestle said. Nestle said it wouldn’t disclose financial details of the deal, which is expected to be completed next year, subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Repsol has agreed to sell its oil-and-gas assets in Canada to local natural-gas firm Peyto Exploration & Development for $468 million as part of its portfolio management strategy. The Spanish major said on Thursday that the deal includes all mineral rights, facilities and infrastructure that are part of its Canadian upstream oil-and-gas business. The company will retain its commercial and logistic operations in Canada through its Saint John liquefied natural gas facility and trading business. The move is in line with its strategy to consolidate production preferably in other key areas, with a special focus on the U.S., Repsol said. The acquisition is expected to close in mid October, subject to customary closing conditions.
British American Tobacco has sold its Russian and Belarusian businesses to a consortium led by members of BAT Russia’s management team for an undisclosed sum, it said Thursday. The FTSE 100 cigarette maker–which houses the Kent, Dunhill and Lucky Strike brands among its portfolio–said in March 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, that ownership of the Russian business wasn’t sustainable given the current environment and that it planned to transfer it. BAT’s operations in Russia include a head office in Moscow, 75 regional offices and a manufacturing facility in St. Petersburg. BAT also has an office in Belarus. The businesses represented 2.7% of fiscal 2023 group revenue. BATs said Thursday that the sale is expected to complete within the next month provided all conditions are met. It added that the board remains confident to meet full-year guidance as provided in the half-year earnings in July. On July 26, BATs said that it expected organic constant currency revenue growth in the 3% to 5% range for this year.
Melrose Industries said its pretax loss for the first half narrowed as revenue was boosted by the performance of its aerospace division, and upgraded its guidance for the year. The London-listed turnaround specialist said Thursday that pretax loss was 62 million pounds ($77.5 million) compared with a restated loss of GBP314 million last year, while revenue rose to GBP1.63 billion from a restated GBP1.36 billion. The company said revenue in the aerospace business rose 19% to GBP1.63 billion and that the engines division continued to show strong profit growth. The board declared an interim dividend of 1.5 pence a share, up from 0.825 pence the year before. For 2023, the company expects to report revenue in the GBP3.35 billion to GBP3.45 billion range. For the aerospace division the company increased its adjusted operating profit guidance by more than 8% now expects it to be in the GBP375 million to GBP385 million range, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the GBP525 million to GBP535 million range. “Operational efficiencies and the benefit of ongoing restructuring means that we expect full year 2023 to show an excellent improvement in performance, with the Aerospace business positioned for further profitable success over the coming years,” Chairman Justin Dowley said.
Beazley backed its full-year guidance after pretax profit rose to a record-high in the first half of the year. The specialty insurer said Thursday that pretax profit for the half-year rose to $366.4 million from the restated $364.9 million in the prior-year’s similar period. However, this missed market consensus’ $457.6 million, according to a Visible Alpha-collected average of twelve analysts’ estimates. The rise was driven by strong growth in its North American property business and momentum in cyber across Europe, the FTSE 100-listed company said. Insurance revenue climbed to $2.63 billion from $2.36 billion a year prior. Analysts had seen $2.38 billion in revenue, based on the VA-compiled consensus. Return on equity–a key industry metric–was 18%, down from 26%, while discounted combined ratio–a measure of financial health–was 84% compared with 71%. Its solvency II ratio–the company’s key capital measure–was 273%. The group aims to keep a ratio above 170%, it said. Beazley maintained its growth guidance of mid-teens gross premiums written and mid-20s net premiums written for the full-year. Due to a previously reported change in accounting standards, the group’s 2022 interim figures were restated.
Currys said that first-quarter revenue fell as its Nordics markets continued to slip. The retailer of technology products said Thursday that like-for-like revenue for the 17 weeks ended Aug. 26 was down 4%. The company said sales were robust in domestic appliances and mobile, but this was offset by weakness in other categories, especially computing. By markets, UK & Ireland like-for-like revenue fell 2%, while Nordics revenue dropped 8%. Greece was the only market with growth, with like-for-like revenue up 3%. The company said that guidance for fiscal 2024 remains unchanged. It expects a capital expenditure of around 80 million pounds ($100.1 million), and net exceptional cash costs around GBP50 million. “Our priorities this year are simple: to keep the UK&I’s encouraging momentum going, and to get the Nordics back on track. We’re making good progress on both, in what continues to be a challenging economic environment. We remain confident that we’re building a stronger business that’s resilient today and fit to prosper in the longer term,” Chief Executive Alex Baldock said.
Direct Line said it has agreed to sell its brokered commercial insurance business lines to Intact Financial Corp. for potentially up to 550 million pounds ($687.9 million). The non-life insurer said Thursday it will sell the business to Intact’s subsidiary RSA Insurance for an initial consideration of GBP520 million, and a potential further consideration of up to GBP30 million, contingent on financial performance. Transfer of the operational assets and liabilities to RSA is targeted for the second quarter of 2024. Along with the consideration and earn-out, Direct Line estimates over time it will release capital of up to GBP270 million. Proceeds from the sale will be used to enhance the company’s capital strength and for general corporate purposes. Direct Line will remain active in the direct small business commercial lines insurance space through its brands “Direct Line” and “Churchill”. The value created for shareholders will allow the group to improve its capital resilience and provides a platform for improved performance,” Acting Chief Executive Jon Greenwood said. Given the size of the transaction, it is subject to shareholder approval. A notice of general meeting will be published as soon as practicable.
Τα παραπάνω εκφράζουν προσωπικές απόψεις, και σε καμία περίπτωση δεν αποτελούν προτροπή για αγορά, πώληση ή διακράτηση οποιασδήποτε κινητής αξίας.

