Live Markets: European futures rise after holiday break

Gracell Biotechnologies

27/12/2023 07:42

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    EUROPEAN FUTURES RISE AFTER HOLIDAY BREAK
    European shares were set to rise at the open on Wednesday following a long festive weekend,
with gains on Wall Street the day before setting the tone for the final trading days of 2023.
    EuroSTOXX50 and FTSE futures rose 0.4-0.5%, tracking the positive close in the U.S. and
gains in Asia, as investors latched on to the year-end optimism driven by expectations that the
Fed could begin cutting rates as early as next March.
    Corporate news was thin.
    Bayer  BAYGn.DE  is one to watch after it won a U.S. trial in a lawsuit brought by a man who
said he developed cancer from exposure to its Roundup weedkiller. 
    Eyes are also on AstraZeneca  AZN.L  after a deal to buy Gracell Biotechnologies  GRCL.O 
for up to $1.2 billion as the pharma company furthers its cell therapy ambitions and boosts its
presence in China.
    Meanwhile, France's CMA CGM said on Tuesday it was increasing the number of vessels
travelling through the Suez Canal, joining Maersk in returning to the area after U.S.-led
efforts to prevent attacks.
    
    
    (Danilo Masoni)
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