UK Market Snapshot
UK markets finished mixed yesterday, with the FTSE 100 index closing at a new record high boosted by a rally in commodity stocks. Miners, Rio Tinto, Antofagasta and Anglo American advanced 1.7%, 2.3% and 3.2%, respectively, amid higher metal prices. Energy giants, Royal Dutch Shell and BP increased 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively, tracking gains in crude oil prices. Cyber-security firm, Sophos Group surged 7.3%, amid possibility of another massive cyber-attack. Banking stocks, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Barclays climbed 1.0%, 1.3% and 2.3%, respectively. Vodafone Group marginally rose after the company agreed to transfer its 35.0% stake in Safaricom to Vodacom Group. Bucking the trend, TUI declined 4.8%, after the company posted higher loss for the first half. The FTSE 100 advanced 0.3%, to close at 7,454.4, while the FTSE 250 fell 0.1%, to settle at 19,751.0.
US Market Snapshot
US markets ended in the green yesterday, lifted by gains in technology and energy sector stocks. Oil majors, Exxon Mobil and Chevron added 0.3% and 0.8%, respectively, following a rally in crude oil prices. Patheon rallied 33.1%, after Thermo Fisher Scientific, up 0.4%, agreed to acquire the former for $7.2 billion, including $2.0 billion of net debt. Cybersecurity firms, Palo Alto Networks, Symantec and FireEye advanced 2.7%, 3.2% and 7.5%, respectively, as the malicious software, WannaCry, is expected to create more havoc for companies and government agencies. Moody’s edged 1.2% up, after the company announced that it would buy Bureau van Dijk in a $3.3 billion deal. The S&P 500 gained 0.5%, to settle at 2,402.3. The DJIA rose 0.4%, to settle at 20,981.9, while the NASDAQ advanced 0.5%, to close at 6,149.7.
Europe Market Snapshot
Other European markets closed in positive territory yesterday, helped by a bounce in crude oil prices. RWE advanced 3.9%, as the company confirmed its full year outlook after reporting upbeat core profit for the first quarter. Peer, E.ON edged 1.3% up. Atlantia climbed 2.5%, after the company announced a €16.3 billion cash-and-share offer for Abertis, down 0.6%, in order to create the world’s largest toll-road operator. German lenders, Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank added 1.2% and 2.8%, respectively. On the losing side, UBS Group declined 2.9%, after Singapore’s sovereign fund GIC reduced its stake in the company at a loss. Dufry slid 1.0%, after HNA Group increased its stake in the company to 20.92%. The FTSEurofirst 300 index gained 0.1%, to close at 1,556.8. Among other European markets, the German DAX Xetra 30 rose 0.3%, to close at 12,807.0, while the French CAC-40 advanced 0.2%, to settle at 5,417.4.
Asia Market Snapshot
Markets in Asia are trading mostly higher this morning, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street. In Japan, Asahi Group Holdings has advanced 2.8%, after the brewer posted a rise in its net profit for the January-March quarter. Exporters, Sony, Toyota Motor and Panasonic have gained 0.6%, 1.2% and 1.6%, respectively. On the flipside, Daikyo has plunged 7.4%, after the company warned that its net profit might decline for the year ending in March 2018. In Hong Kong, broker, CITIC Securities has fallen 0.3%, while Haitong Securities has risen 0.2%. Gaming stocks, Galaxy Entertainment Group and Melco International Development have advanced 2.0% and 3.0%, respectively. In South Korea, index majors, POSCO and Samsung Electronics have added 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively. The Nikkei 225 index is trading marginally higher at 19,876.3. The Hang Seng index is trading 0.3% down at 25,300.4, while the Kospi index is trading 0.1% up at 2,293.3.
Key Corporate Announcements Today
AGMs
Aldermore Group, Charles Taylor, Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (DI), Gulf Marine Services, Impax Environmental Markets, IWG, Merchants Trust, Pittards, Polymetal International, Quarto Group Inc., Rockhopper Exploration, Standard Life, Ubisense Group, Xaar
EGMs
JSC Kazkommertsbank GDR (Reg S), JZ Capital Partners Ltd
Final Dividend Payment Date
Capital & Regional, John Laing Infrastructure Fund Ltd, Lloyds Banking Group, Melrose Industries, Private & Commercial Finance Group, Rathbone Brothers, Wood Group (John)
Interim Dividend Payment Date
Murray International Trust
Special Dividend Payment Date
Lloyds Banking Group
Key Corporate Announcements for Tomorrow
AGMs
Bodycote, BP, Cairn Homes, Cairn Homes, Cenkos Securities, Chesnara, Civitas Social Housing, esure Group, Foxtons Group, Highland Gold Mining Ltd., Indivior, Jupiter Fund Management, Kings Arms Yard VCT, Maven Income & Growth 4 VCT, Meikles Ltd., Menhaden Capital, Ophir Energy, Paddy Power Betfair, Playtech, Premier Oil, Sigmaroc, Tritax Big Box Reit, UBM, Vitec Group, Zegona Communications, Zotefoams
EGMs
Great Portland Estates
Final Dividend Payment Date
Aviva, GKN, Hochschild Mining, OneSavings Bank, Rentokil Initial
Special Dividend Payment Date
Lloyds Banking Group
Trading Announcements
Foxtons Group, Premier Oil, Synectics, UBM, Atrium European Real Estate, Coats
Key Economic News
Italian CPI rose in April
The final consumer price index (CPI) advanced 1.90% in Italy on a YoY basis, in April. The CPI had registered a rise of 1.40% in the previous month. The preliminary figures had indicated a rise of 1.40%.
Italian CPI rose in April
In April, on a monthly basis, the final CPI in Italy advanced 0.40%. The CPI had recorded an unchanged reading in the prior month. The preliminary figures had recorded a flat reading.
Italian EU normalised CPI rose in April
The final EU normalised CPI advanced 0.80% on a monthly basis, in April, in Italy. In the previous month, the EU normalised CPI had climbed 1.90%. The preliminary figures had recorded a rise of 1.90%.
Italian EU normalised CPI advanced as expected in April
On an annual basis, the final EU normalised CPI climbed 2.00% in Italy, in April, compared to an advance of 1.40% in the prior month. The preliminary figures had also indicated an advance of 2.00%. Market anticipation was for the EU normalised CPI to climb 2.00%.
Swiss producer and import price index rose less than expected in April
In April, on an annual basis, the producer and import price index climbed 0.80% in Switzerland, less than market expectations for a rise of 1.00%. In the prior month, the producer and import price index had recorded a rise of 1.30%.
Swiss producer and import price index unexpectedly eased in April
The producer and import price index in Switzerland recorded an unexpected drop of 0.20% in April on a MoM basis, lower than market expectations for an unchanged reading. The producer and import price index had climbed 0.10% in the prior month.
US housing market index surprisingly advanced in May
The housing market index rose unexpectedly to a level of 70.00 in the US, in May, compared to market expectations of a steady reading. In the prior month, the housing market index had recorded a reading of 68.00.
US net treasury international capital (TIC) long term purchases advanced in March
In March, net treasury international capital (TIC) long term purchases recorded a rise to $59.80 billion in the US. Net treasury international capital (TIC) long term purchases had recorded a revised reading of $53.10 billion in the prior month.
US total net TIC flows fell in March
Total net TIC flows registered a drop to $0.70 billion in March, in the US, compared to a revised reading of $13.20 billion in the previous month.
US NY Empire State manufacturing index surprisingly dropped in May
The NY Empire State manufacturing index recorded an unexpected drop to -1.00 in May, in the US, lower than market expectations of a rise to a level of 7.50. The NY Empire State manufacturing index had recorded a level of 5.20 in the prior month.
Canadian existing home sales declined in April
Existing home sales slid 1.70% in Canada on a MoM basis, in April. Existing home sales had registered a rise of 1.10% in the previous month.
Japanese machine tool orders rose in April
The preliminary machine tool orders in Japan climbed 34.70% in April on a YoY basis. Machine tool orders had risen 22.80% in the prior month.