UK Market Snapshot
UK markets finished in negative territory yesterday, with the FTSE 100 index closing almost flat. Capita plunged 9.1%, after the company announced that its CEO, Andy Parker, will step down from his role this year and after it posted a fall in its net profit for 2016 due to delay in contracts and fewer contract wins. Schroders dropped 2.4%, after the company warned that unpredictable markets could weigh on its client demand in the sector and create volatility in its fund flows in the medium term. On the positive side, ConvaTec Group jumped 5.1%, after the company restated that it would pay its first dividend for 1H17 in a ratio of 35.0% to 45.0% of adjusted net income over time. The FTSE 100 marginally declined to close at 7,382.4, while the FTSE 250 fell 0.2%, to settle at 18,950.9.
US Market Snapshot
US markets closed in the red yesterday, weighed down by losses in financial sector stocks. Banks, Bank of America, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase declined 1.1%, 1.5% and 1.6%, respectively. Barnes & Noble plunged 8.6%, after the retailer’s profit and sales for the third quarter missed analysts’ expectations. Box plummeted 8.1%, after it offered a weaker than expected outlook for the first quarter of 2017. Shake Shack dipped 2.6%, after the company provided a dismal revenue outlook for 2017. Bucking the trend, Monster Beverage surged 12.8%, following upbeat fourth quarter earnings and a new share buyback plan of $500.0 million. Abercrombie & Fitch rallied 13.9%, after the company posted its first increase in quarterly comparable sales in a year at its Hollister brand. The S&P 500 slipped 0.6%, to settle at 2,381.9. The DJIA shed 0.5%, to settle at 21,003.0, while the NASDAQ slid 0.7%, to close at 5,861.2.
Europe Market Snapshot
Other European markets ended mostly higher yesterday. Anheuser-Busch InBev declined 2.5%, after the company posted downbeat earnings for the fourth quarter as less beer was sold in the Brazil market and raised its cost savings targets from its merger with SABMiller. Deutsche Telekom dropped 1.3%, after the company reported weaker than expected profit for 2016 due to its one-time impairment loss. On the flipside, Roche Holding jumped 6.5%, after its clinical trial showed that patients who took a combination of Herceptin, Perjeta and chemotherapy faced a lower risk of death due to breast cancer and could boost sales for its Perjeta drugs. The FTSEurofirst 300 index marginally gained to close at 1,481.8. Among other European markets, the German DAX Xetra 30 slid 0.1%, to close at 12,059.6, while the French CAC-40 advanced 0.1%, to settle at 4,963.8.
Asia Market Snapshot
Markets in Asia are trading lower this morning, tracking overnight losses in US equities. In Japan, exporters, Panasonic, Toyota and Toshiba have declined 0.3%, 0.4% and 1.8%, respectively, while Nissan Motor and Sony have risen 0.1% and 1.1%, respectively. However, Nintendo has advanced 3.4%, after the company started worldwide release of its new Switch video game console. In Hong Kong, property stocks, Henderson Land Development, Hang Lung Properties and Cheung Kong Property Holdings have slipped 1.1%, 1.2% and 1.6%, respectively. In South Korea, Jeju Air, Amorepacific and Hotel Shilla have plunged 5.2%, 9.7% and 11.8%, respectively, amid reports that China ordered tour operators to stop selling trips to South Korea. The Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.5% lower at 19,466.8. The Hang Seng index is trading 0.6% down at 23,581.1, while the Kospi index is trading 1.3% lower at 2,075.1.
Key Corporate Announcements Today
AGMs
Actual Experience, Premier Veterinary Group
EGMs
AFC Energy
Final Dividend Payment Date
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, Fyffes, Gooch & Housego, Sage Group, Zytronic
Interim Dividend Payment Date
CPL Resources, Games Workshop Group, GCP Infrastructure Investments Ltd, IG Group Holdings, P2P Global Investments, Premier Asset Management Group, Puma Vct 8, Puma VCT 9
Special Dividend Payment Date
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust
Quarterly Payment Date
JPMorgan Claverhouse Inv Trust
Trading Announcements
Harvey Nash
Key Corporate Announcements for Monday
AGMs
Energiser Investments, Collagen Solutions PLC
EGMs
Energiser Investments Plc
Interim Dividend Payment Date
Trading Announcements
EasyJet
Key Economic News
UK construction PMI surprisingly rose in February
In the UK, the construction PMI climbed unexpectedly to 52.50 in February, higher than market expectations of a drop to 52.00. The construction PMI had registered a level of 52.20 in the previous month.
Euro-zone unemployment rate steadied in January
In January, the unemployment rate in the Euro-zone remained steady at 9.60%, meeting market expectations.
Euro-zone PPI rose as expected in January
On a MoM basis, the producer price index (PPI) in the Euro-zone registered a rise of 0.70% in January, meeting market expectations. The PPI had registered a revised rise of 0.80% in the previous month.
Italian unemployment rate remained unchanged in January
The unemployment rate remained steady at a level of 11.90% in January, in Italy. Market anticipation was for the unemployment rate to rise to a level of 12.00%.
Number of people unemployed in Spain unexpectedly fell in February
In Spain, number of people unemployed recorded an unexpected drop of 9.40 K in February, following a gain of 57.30 K in the prior month. Market expectation was for number of people unemployed to rise 4.60 K.
Spanish GDP advanced as expected in 4Q 2016
In 4Q 2016, on a QoQ basis, the final gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.70% in Spain, meeting market expectations. In the previous quarter, GDP had registered a similar rise. The preliminary figures had also indicated an advance of 0.70%.
Spanish GDP advanced as expected in 4Q 2016
In 4Q 2016, on an annual basis, the final GDP rose 3.00% in Spain, meeting market expectations. GDP had climbed 3.20% in the prior quarter. The preliminary figures had also indicated a rise of 3.00%.
Swiss GDP advanced less than expected in 4Q 2016
In Switzerland, the seasonally adjusted GDP rose 0.10% in 4Q 2016 on a QoQ basis, less than market expectations for a rise of 0.40%. In the prior quarter, GDP had registered a revised similar rise.
Swiss GDP rose less than expected in 4Q 2016
On a YoY basis, GDP registered a rise of 0.60% in 4Q 2016, in Switzerland, compared to a revised advance of 1.40% in the prior quarter. Market anticipation was for GDP to advance 1.30%.
Swiss real retail sales dropped in January
In Switzerland, real retail sales dropped 1.40% in January on a YoY basis. Real retail sales had registered a revised drop of 4.10% in the prior month.
US initial jobless claims dropped surprisingly in the last week
In the week ended 25 February 2017, the seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims in the US eased unexpectedly to 223.00 K, compared to market expectations of an advance to a level of 245.00 K. Initial jobless claims had recorded a revised level of 242.00 K in the prior week.
US New York City current business condition index dropped in February
In February, the New York City current business condition index in the US eased to 51.30. In the previous month, the New York City current business condition index had registered a reading of 57.70.
US continuing jobless claims recorded an unexpected rise in the last week
In the week ended 18 February 2017, the seasonally adjusted continuing jobless claims recorded an unexpected rise to 2066.00 K in the US, compared to market expectations of a drop to 2060.00 K. Continuing jobless claims had registered a revised reading of 2063.00 K in the prior week.
Canadian annualised GDP advanced more than expected in 4Q 2016
In 4Q 2016, on a quarterly basis, annualised GDP in Canada registered a rise of 2.60%, more than market expectations for a rise of 2.00%. Annualised GDP had recorded a revised rise of 3.80% in the prior quarter.
Canadian GDP rose more than expected in December
In December, the GDP in Canada advanced 2.00% on a YoY basis, higher than market expectations for an advance of 1.70%. In the previous month, the GDP had risen by a revised 1.90%.
Canadian GDP advanced as expected in December
In December, on a monthly basis, the GDP climbed 0.30% in Canada, compared to a revised advance of 0.50% in the previous month. Market anticipation was for the GDP to rise 0.30%.
Japanese national CPI rose as expected in January
The national consumer price index (CPI) in Japan registered a rise of 0.40% in January on an annual basis, compared with an advance of 0.30% in the previous month. Markets were expecting the national CPI to rise 0.40%.
Japanese Tokyo CPI excluding food and energy steadied in February
In Japan, Tokyo CPI excluding food and energy remained steady on an annual basis, in February. In the previous month, Tokyo CPI excluding food and energy had registered a flat reading.
Japanese Tokyo CPI excluding fresh food fell more than expected in February
Tokyo CPI excluding fresh food in Japan dropped 0.30% on an annual basis in February, higher than market expectations for a drop of 0.20%. In the prior month, Tokyo CPI excluding fresh food had registered a similar fall.
Japanese household spending declined more than expected in January
On an annual basis, in January, household spending slid 1.20% in Japan, more than market expectations for a fall of 0.30%. Household spending had registered a drop of 0.30% in the previous month.
Japanese unemployment rate slid in January
In Japan, unemployment rate recorded a drop to 3.00% in January, compared to a level of 3.10% in the prior month. Markets were anticipating unemployment rate to fall to a level of 3.00%.
Japanese Markit composite PMI dropped in February
In Japan, Markit composite PMI fell to a level of 52.20 in February. In the prior month, Markit composite PMI had recorded a level of 52.30.
Japanese Tokyo CPI fell more than expected in February
Tokyo CPI eased 0.30% on a YoY basis in Japan, in February, compared with an advance of 0.10% in the previous month. Markets were expecting Tokyo CPI to drop 0.10%.
Japanese National CPI ex-food, energy recorded a rise in January
In January, on a YoY basis, National CPI ex-food, energy recorded a rise of 0.20% in Japan. National CPI ex-food, energy had registered a flat reading in the prior month.
Japanese National CPI ex-fresh food surprisingly climbed in January
National CPI ex-fresh food recorded an unexpected rise of 0.10% on an annual basis in January, in Japan, more than market expectations for an unchanged reading. In the previous month, National CPI ex-fresh food had dropped 0.20%.
Japanese job to applicant ratio remained flat in January
In January, job to applicant ratio in Japan remained steady at a level of 1.43.
Chinese Caixin composite PMI climbed in February
In February, Caixin composite PMI in China registered a rise to 52.60, compared to a level of 52.20 in the prior month.
Chinese Caixin/Markit services PMI index declined in February
Compared to a level of 53.10 in the previous month, the Caixin/Markit services PMI index eased to 52.60 in February, in China.