Live Markets: Opening snapshot: Europe at two-week lows

Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG

25/09/2019 08:37

* European stocks under pressure as Trump impeachment probe rattles confidence
    * Euro-zone index hits 2-week low
    * EDF falls as co flags rising Hinkley Point costs

Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters
stocks reporters and anchored today by Josephine Mason. Reach her on Messenger to share your
thoughts on market moves: josephine.mason.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net 
    
    OPENING SNAPSHOT: EUROPE AT TWO-WEEK LOWS (0737 GMT)
    European stocks are hitting two-week lows in early deals as investors shun riskier assets
after the Democrats launches an impeachment probe into U.S. President Trump's dealings with
Ukraine, raising worries about prolonged political upheaval in the world's No. 1 economy.
    "It's not been a great 24 hours for the leaders of two of the world's most important
economies and old allies. While both would rather be exploring an ambitious new post-Brexit
trade deal that will bring the two countries even closer together, they're instead now fighting
opposition forces at home intent on bringing them down," says Craig Erlam, senior market
analyst, UK & EMEA at Oanda.  
    The euro-zone benchmark  .STOXXE  is down 0.6%, with Itlay's blue chips  .FTMIB  down 0.9%
and Germany's DAX  .GDAXI  down 0.5%.
    Semiconductors are leading the charge lower, with the tech index  SX8P  down 1.3% and oil &
gas  SXEP  down 1.2% after a drop in crude prices.
    Investors are also digesting more negative news from several German industrial machinery
companies - Pfeiffer  PV.DE  has plunged almost 14% in early deals, set for its worst day in six
years.
    Robotics firm Kuka  KU2G.DE  has hit six week lows after cutting its profit outlook due to
weakening auto demand, but the stock has since bounced back and is up 0.1%. The stock has been
under severe pressure in recent year amid tumult in the auto sector and fell to five-year lows
in August.
    Among other individual moves, EDF  EDF.PA  is down 4.7% and the biggest faller on the STOXX
600  .STOXX  after raising the cost of its Hinkley Point project.    
    
    
    (Josephine Mason)
    *****    
    
    BEFORE THE OPEN: SNEAKERS, SOAP, FASHION AND ELECTRICITY (0647 GMT)
    The potential for greater political tumult in Washington that will engulf the U.S. President
following the launch of an impeachment probe into Donald Trump's dealing with Ukraine have put
heavy pressure on European stock futures this morning.
    Futures for Germany's export-heavy DAX  FDXc1  are down 0.6%, while Eurostoxx 50  STXEc1 
are down 0.4%.
    Not helping sentiment is a profit warning from Pfeiffer Vacuum  PV.DE  that it's suffering
order delays and expects weaker-than-expected FY results, the latest European (and German)
industrial machinery company to cut guidance.
    While a relatively small company by market cap, the news will underscore concerns about the
health of Europe Inc ahead of Q3 results as companies suffer their third straight quarterly
decline in profits. Yesterday, German truck and trailer components maker SAF Holland  SFQN.DE 
issued a profit alert. 
    Pfeiffer's shares are down as much as 9.5% in pre-market trading and the news could hurt
Comet Holdings  COTNE.S  and Assa Abloy  ASSAb.ST .
    Cosmetics and soap maker PZ Cussons Plc  PZC.L  has said it expects conditions in its key
markets to remain challenging for the rest of the first-half, as it reported declining
first-quarter revenue in Asia-Pacific and Africa. Its shares are seen down 2%.
    Still consensus-busting results from Nike  NKE.N , the world's largest footwear maker,
overnight could provide a bright spot for Adidas and online fashion company BooHoo  BOOH.L 
shares are expected to get a lift from its H1 results, highlighting the shift in consumer to
online away from the high street.
    Puma  PUMG.DE  may not benefit from the warm glow from Nike though after Gucci-owner Kering
 PRTP.PA  announced it's issuing a bond that can be exchanged for shares in the German sports
company. Kering owns a 15.7% stake.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nFWN26F0VO
    News that ThyssenKrupp  TKAG.DE  is preparing to replace its CEO after only a year on the
job is seen boosting the German steel-to-elevator conglomerate shares.
    Utilities will be in focus - EDF  EDF.PA  shares are seen down 5% by one dealer after the
French electricity firm warned of spiralling costs from Britain's Hinkley Point C project. The
UK's United Utilities forecast higher underlying profit and revenue for the first half.    
    
    
    (Josephine Mason)
    *****   

    
    ON OUR RADAR: TRAINERS, ELEVATORS AND VACUUMS (0600 GMT)
    On the corporate news front, warnings from industrial machinery makers are piling up. The
latest comes from Germany's Pfeiffer Vacuum  PV.DE , which warned of delays to orders, cut its
FY sales and EBIT margin forecasts in that move that underscores worries about a prolonged
European corporate recession and bodes poorly for the upcoming Q3 earnings season.
    Its shares are down as much as 9.5% in premarket trading.
    One bright spot overnight for sport retailers though - Nike  NKE.N  delivered
better-than-expected quarterly revenue and profit after the world's largest footwear maker
pushed to sell its sneakers to consumers through its own stores and online retailers gained
pace. The news sent shares up 5% and may give Adidas  ADSGn.DE  and Puma  PUMG.DE  a lift.
    Change is afoot at the top of ThyssenKrupp  TKAG.DE  - it plans to end the contract of
current Chief Executive Guido Kerkhoff, the latest sign of turmoil at the steel-to-elevators
conglomerate, as it tries to restructure itself by selling or listing all or parts of its
elevator unit, by far its most profitable business.
    
    Here are your early headlines:
    
    Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology Adjusts Guidance For 2019 Sales And EBIT Margin  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nASP00178Z
    Thyssenkrupp CEO Kerkhoff to leave, chairwoman Merz to take over  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N26F6W5
    As Thomas Cook customers return home, blame game begins  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N26F0R8
    Derichebourg Announces Sale Of Its Activities In Morocco  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nFWN26F0NI
    Novartis blames former AveXis executives for Zolgensma data manipulation  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N26F0ZH
    Greek utility Public Power Corp shrinks first-half loss  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N26F3SZ
    Bain and Advent in advanced talks about new Osram bid -sources  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N26F5QY
    Fiat manager charged with lying about emissions even after VW scandal  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N26F0WS
    Renault-FCA merger "behind us", French carmaker says  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N26F66E
    
    (Josephine Mason)
    *****

    THE WORRIES PILE UP (0517 GMT)  
    As if investors didn't have enough to worry about from a slowing euro-zone (global) economy,
the U.S. trade spat with China to Brexit. Now political turmoil is set to roil Washington and
financial markets after the House of Representatives launched impeachment investigation into
President Trump over his dealings with Ukraine.
    The move has stirred worries about a prolonged period of upheaval in Washington, which could
spill into the 2020 election and could distract the head of the world's No. 1 economy as he
prepares for the next round of talks with Beijing over trade. Wall Street sold off and Asian
equities are under pressure overnight.    
    IG financial spreadbetters expect London's FTSE to open 17 points lower at 7,274,
Frankfurt's DAX to open 24 points lower at 12,283, and Paris' CAC to open 15 points lower at
5,613. 
    
    (Josephine Mason)
    *****  
    


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 (Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Josephine Mason and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)