UK Market Snapshot
UK markets finished in negative territory yesterday, weighed down by commodity and financial sector stocks. Miners, Fresnillo, Rio Tinto and Anglo American declined 1.5%, 2.1% and 2.7%, respectively, after China, a major consumer of industrial and precious metals, trimmed its economic growth outlook for 2017. Banks, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland Group dropped 1.3%, 1.9% and 2.6%, respectively, amid news that Deutsche Bank would hike its capital by €8.0 billion through a rights issue. Bucking the trend, Standard Life jumped 5.7%, after the company agreed to acquire Aberdeen Asset Management, up 4.2%, in an all share deal to create a company worth more than £11.0 billion. ITV advanced 1.5%, after the company won a court battle with TVCatchup.com over retransmitting its broadcasts without permission of the former. The FTSE 100 shed 0.3%, to close at 7,350.1, while the FTSE 250 marginally fell to settle at 18,881.4.
US Market Snapshot
US markets closed in the red yesterday, amid escalating geopolitical tensions after North Korea tested four ballistic missiles off its east coast. Delta Air Lines declined 2.6%, after the company trimmed its operating margin forecast for 2017 on higher costs. Peers, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Air Group and United Continental Holding dipped 2.2%, 2.3% and 3.2%, respectively. Banks, Goldman Sachs Group, Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase fell 0.4%, 0.8% and 1.0%, respectively, after the US Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairwoman, Janet Yellen, commented that interest rates could be raised next week. General Motors dropped 0.8%, after the automaker agreed to sell its European business, Opel and Vauxhall, to Peugeot for €2.2 billion as it incurred losses for almost two decades. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3%, to settle at 2,375.3. The DJIA shed 0.2%, to settle at 20,954.3, while the NASDAQ slid 0.4%, to close at 5,849.2.
Europe Market Snapshot
Other European markets ended weaker yesterday, led by losses in banking sector stocks. Deutsche Bank declined 3.3%, after the lender announced that it is planning a share sale of €8.0 billion to strengthen its capital position. Fellow banks, Commerzbank, BNP Paribas and Credit Suisse Group slipped 0.3%, 1.0% and 4.3%, respectively. On the positive side, Uniper advanced 3.2%, after the company revealed that it would sell its 25.0% stake in a Russian gas field to OMV for around €1.75 billion. MorphoSys climbed 2.2%, after the company announced that its partner, Roche Holding, up 0.1%, would start Phase 3 Gantenerumab Trials for patients with Alzheimer's disease. The FTSEurofirst 300 index declined 0.5%, to close at 1,472.9. Among other European markets, the German DAX Xetra 30 slid 0.6%, to close at 11,958.4, while the French CAC-40 shed 0.5%, to settle at 4,972.2.
Asia Market Snapshot
Markets in Asia are trading mostly higher this morning. In Japan, exporters, Toyota Motor, Panasonic and Sony have declined 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.8%, respectively, while Honda Motor, Mazda Motor and Canon have advanced 0.3%, 0.5% and 2.3%, respectively. However, Yamato Holdings has climbed 1.4%, after reports indicated that the company would hike its shipping rates across the board for the first time in 27 years. In Hong Kong, banks, HSBC Holdings, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Bank of Communications have risen 0.2%, 0.6% and 0.7%, respectively. In South Korea, LG Electronics has jumped 4.5%, while SK Hynix has fallen 1.3%. The Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.2% lower at 19,345.0. The Hang Seng index is trading 0.4% up at 23,695.0, while the Kospi index is trading 0.7% higher at 2,095.8.
Key Corporate Announcements Today
AGMs
CareTech Holding, JPMorgan Russian Securities, BT Group Plc, Benchmark Holdings PLC,
EGMs
Dunelm Group, Hargreaves Lansdown, LGO Energy
Trading Announcements
Ashtead Group, McCarthy & Stone
Key Corporate Announcements for Tomorrow
AGMs
Blackrock Income And Growth Investment Trust, Impax Asset Management Group
Final Dividend Payment Date
Elegant Hotels Group
Interim Dividend Payment Date
Key Economic News
UK new car registrations dropped in February
In the UK, new car registrations slid 0.30% in February on a YoY basis. New car registrations had registered a rise of 2.90% in the previous month.
UK retail sales across all sectors dropped more than expected in February
On a YoY basis, retail sales across all sectors registered a drop of 0.40% in the UK, in February, more than market expectations for a drop of 0.20%. Retail sales across all sectors had registered a drop of 0.60% in the previous month.
Euro-zone investor confidence index rose in March
The investor confidence index registered a rise to 20.70 in the Euro-zone, in March, compared to a level of 17.40 in the prior month. Markets were expecting the investor confidence index to rise to a level of 18.50.
US factory orders advanced more than expected in January
In January, on a MoM basis, factory orders climbed 1.20% in the US, more than market expectations for an advance of 1.00%. In the previous month, factory orders had recorded a rise of 1.30%.
US non-defense capital goods shipments (ex aircraft) slid in January
In January, on a MoM basis, the final non-defense capital goods shipments (ex aircraft) in the US eased 0.40%. In the previous month, the non-defense capital goods shipments (ex aircraft) had climbed by a revised 1.60%. The preliminary figures had indicated a fall of 0.60%.
US durable goods orders (ex transportation) remained steady in January
On a MoM basis, the final durable goods orders (ex transportation) in the US remained steady in January, compared to a revised rise of 0.90% in the previous month. The preliminary figures had recorded a fall of 0.20%. Market anticipation was for durable goods orders (ex transportation) to rise 0.10%.
US durable goods orders rose more than expected in January
The final durable goods orders in the US rose 2.00% in January on a monthly basis, more than market expectations for a rise of 1.00%. The preliminary figures had recorded an advance of 1.80%. In the previous month, durable goods orders had dropped by a revised 0.80%.
US non-defense capital goods orders (ex aircraft) declined in January
On a monthly basis, the final non-defense capital goods orders (ex aircraft) registered a drop of 0.10% in January, in the US. The non-defense capital goods orders (ex aircraft) had risen by a revised 1.10% in the prior month. The preliminary figures had indicated a drop of 0.40%.
Japanese foreign exchange reserves climbed in February
In February, foreign exchange reserves registered a rise to $1232.34 billion in Japan, compared to a reading of $1231.57 billion in the previous month.