UK Market Snapshot
UK markets finished in negative territory yesterday, led down by losses in banks and miners. Kingfisher tumbled 5.1%, as the retailer offered a cautious outlook for future demand amid uncertainty over British and French political arena. The company also announced that its Chairman, Daniel Bernard, would step down from his role in June. Berendsen dropped 3.8%, following a broker downgrade on the stock to ‘Underperform’ from ‘Outperform’, who also trimmed its price target to 700.0p from 1,200.0p. Airline firms, Easyjet and International Consolidated Airlines Group lost 2.4% and 2.8%, respectively. Banking giants, HSBC Holdings, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays slipped 1.2%, 1.6% and 2.4%, respectively. On the positive side, gold miners, Fresnillo and Randgold Resources advanced 1.0% and 1.4%, respectively, amid increased demand for safe-haven metal. The FTSE 100 declined 0.7%, to close at 7,324.7, while the FTSE 250 fell 0.8%, to settle at 18,832.9.
US Market Snapshot
US markets closed mostly higher yesterday, boosted by a rally in technology sector stocks. Yahoo!, Cisco Systems and Apple advanced 0.6%, 0.7% and 1.1%, respectively. FMC, Ventas and Marriott International climbed 2.7%, 2.8% and 3.4%, respectively. On the flipside, Sears Holdings plunged 12.3%, after the retailer warned about its ability to stay in business if its turnaround plan fails. Nike plummeted 7.1%, after the company provided a dismal sales growth outlook due to tough competition in the North American retail market. American Airlines Group slid 0.2%, after a leading broker downgraded its rating on the stock to ‘Equal weight’ from ‘Overweight’. The S&P 500 gained 0.2%, to settle at 2,348.5. The DJIA marginally fell to settle at 20,661.3, while the NASDAQ advanced 0.5%, to close at 5,821.6.
Europe Market Snapshot
Other European markets ended in the red yesterday, weighed down by losses in banking sector stocks. ING Groep tumbled 4.0%, after it disclosed that it is under a criminal investigation by Dutch officials over bribery case in Uzbekistan which could lead to significant penalties. Other lenders, Deutsche Bank, Credit Agricole and Credit Suisse Group declined 0.3%, 0.7% and 1.8%, respectively. Gemalto plunged 17.1%, after the company trimmed its financial guidance for 2017 due to weak US business. Akzo Nobel slipped 1.1%, after the company rejected a second takeover offer of €22.37 billion from PPG Industries. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles shed 0.6%, after reports indicated that French prosecutors have opened a formal investigation over its diesel emission tests probe. The FTSEurofirst 300 index declined 0.4%, to close at 1,475.5. Among other European markets, the German DAX Xetra 30 slid 0.5%, to close at 11,904.1, while the French CAC-40 fell 0.2%, to settle at 4,994.7.
Asia Market Snapshot
Markets in Asia are trading higher this morning, ahead of a crucial vote on the US health care reform, scheduled later in the day. In Japan, Kansai Electric Power and Asahi Group Holdings have advanced 1.4% and 2.4%, respectively. Exporters, Honda Motor and Mazda Motor have gained 0.2% and 0.7%, respectively. In Hong Kong, AAC Technologies Holdings has jumped 6.9%, after the company posted record-high net profit and revenue for 2016. Li Ka Shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings and Cheung Kong Property Holdings have risen 0.6% and 1.3%, respectively, after both the companies reported an increase in their full-year profits. In South Korea, Hyundai Heavy Industries and LG Electronics have climbed 1.4% and 3.8%, respectively. The Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.1% higher at 19,067.3. The Hang Seng index is trading 0.4% up at 24,407.0, while the Kospi index is trading 0.2% higher at 2,172.6.
Key Corporate Announcements Today
AGMs
Crest Nicholson Holdings, Electra Private Equity, Octopus Titan VCT, Jarvis Securities
EGMs
Conygar
Final Ex-Dividend Date
BlackRock Latin American Inv Trust, Bovis Homes Group, Fidelity European Values, Heavitree Brewery, Heavitree Brewery 'A' Shares, John Laing Infrastructure Fund Ltd, Meggitt, Octopus AIM VCT 2, Private & Commercial Finance Group, SEGRO
Final Dividend Payment Date
32RED, Treatt
Interim Ex-Dividend Date
BlackRock Commodities Income Inv Trust, Brooks Macdonald Group, Chelverton Small Companies Dividend Trust, Clinigen Group, Close Brothers Group, Dunelm Group, Foresight Solar & Infrastructure VCT, Galliford Try, NWF Group, Redrow, Thorpe (F.W.), Tristel
Interim Dividend Payment Date
Murgitroyd Group, Ruffer Investment Company Ltd Red PTG Pref Shares
Quarterly Ex-Dividend Date
Funding Circle SME Income Fund
Key Corporate Announcements for Tomorrow
AGMs
Beazley
EGMs
All Asia Asset Capital Limited (DI)
Final Dividend Payment Date
Downing Three VCT D Share, Downing Two VCT D Share, Henderson Opportunities Trust, Hollywood Bowl Group, LPA Group
Interim Dividend Payment Date
Berkeley Group Holdings (The), Hollywood Bowl Group, Invesco Perpetual UK Small Companies Inv Trust
Quarterly Payment Date
Aberdeen Diversified Income and Growth Trust, Alpha Real Trust Ltd., Brunner Inv Trust, The SME Loan Fund
Key Economic News
Euro-zone current account surplus fell in January
The Euro-zone has registered the non-seasonally adjusted current account surplus of €2.50 billion in January, following a revised current account surplus of €46.90 billion in the previous month.
Euro-zone current account surplus narrowed in January
The seasonally adjusted current account surplus in the Euro-zone dropped to €24.10 billion in January, compared to a revised current account surplus of €30.80 billion in the previous month.
Italy posted current account deficit in January
Current account deficit in Italy recorded a reading of €1.91 billion in January, compared to a current account surplus of €5.54 billion in the prior month.
US housing price index remained unchanged in January
The housing price index remained flat on a monthly basis in January, in the US, less than market expectations for a rise of 0.40%. The housing price index had recorded a rise of 0.40% in the prior month.
US mortgage applications dropped in the last week
Mortgage applications fell 2.70% on a weekly basis in the US, in the week ended 17 March 2017. Mortgage applications had recorded a rise of 3.10% in the previous week.
US existing home sales eased in February
Existing home sales in the US dropped 3.70%, on monthly basis, to a level of 5.48 million in February, compared to market expectations of 5.55 million. Existing home sales had registered a level of 5.69 million in the previous month.
Japanese Tokyo department store sales slid in February
Tokyo department store sales in Japan dropped 3.10% on a YoY basis, in February. Tokyo department store sales had recorded a drop of 1.50% in the prior month.
Japanese supermarket sales dropped in February
On an annual basis, supermarket sales in Japan eased 3.30% in February. Supermarket sales had recorded a drop of 1.60% in the previous month.
Japanese nationwide department store sales fell in February
Nationwide department store sales fell 1.70% on a YoY basis in Japan, in February. In the previous month, nationwide department store sales had fallen 1.20%.
Japanese all industry activity index unexpectedly rose in January
On a MoM basis, in Japan, the all industry activity index registered an unexpected rise of 0.10% in January, compared to a revised drop of 0.20% in the prior month. Markets were anticipating the all industry activity index to record a flat reading.