Live Markets: On our radar: euro futures at 14-week low, tighter virus measures
24/09/2020 07:52
* European shares seen opening sharply lower
* France tightens virus measures
* Asia shares tumble after Wall Street fall
Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters
stocks reporters. You can share your thoughts with Joice Alves (joice.alves@thomsonreuters.com)
and Julien Ponthus (julien.ponthus@thomsonreuters.com) in London and Stefano Rebaudo
(stefano.rebaudo@thomsonreuters.com) in Milan.
ON OUR RADAR: EURO FUTURES HIT 14-WEEK LOW, TIGHTER VIRUS MEASURES (0649 GMT)
European shares are set to open down sharply after bid drops in Asia and Wall Street with
traders blaming growing worries over the economic recovery, as COVID-19 cases grow globally and
government impose new restrictive measures to counter a second wave of infections.
France's health minister unveiled a map of coronavirus "danger zones" around the country
late on Wednesday and gave the hardest-hit local authorities, including that of Marseille, days
to tighten restrictions or risk having a state of health emergency declared there. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N2GK4LO
Meanwhile Germany also issued travel warnings to further French regions. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nS8N2F502S
It also looks that Powell's remark last night that the Fed "had basically done all of the
things it could think of" and fresh Korean tension aren't helping either. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N2GL0MK
Futures on the Euro STOXX 50 were down 1.4 at their lowest in around 14 weeks.
As a result of the new restrictions, travel and leisure stocks could be under pressure with
eyes on French stocks such as Elior ELIOR.PA and Accor ACCP.PA . A report Delta Air Lines
DAL.N is in talks with Airbus AIR.PA to delay at least 40 aircraft deliveries further
underscores the pain facing its virus-hit industry. Airbus shares are seen down 1-2%.
Eyes also on Atlantia ATL.MI ahead of a board meeting later today which is set to discuss
the spin-off of its motorway assets amid reports of ongoing disagreements with the government
over details of a deal. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N2GK4RB
In France, utility Suez SEVI.PA took steps to rejig its water business as it fights a
hostile bid from local rival Veolia VIE.PA . urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N2GK5QI urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nP6N2AW02J
Meantime in Germany SNP Schneider SHFG.DE shares were up 2.5% in early trade after news of
a partnership with Fujitsu.
In earnings, lower consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted UK water supplier
United Utilities UU.L to warn of lower first-half revenue.
(Danilo Masoni)
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MORNING CALL: DOWN WE GO (0538 GMT)
We're clearly set for a risk-off session in Europe today with stock index futures pointing
to losses of more than 1%. The magnitude of the falls could well drag the STOXX 600 .STOXX
benchmark down to its lowest level since June.
Wall Street closed sharply lower led by a more than 3% drop in the Nasdaq, while Asia isn't
of any inspiration with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS last down 1.9% on worries over the resilience of the economic recovery.
MKTS/GLOB .
(Danilo Masoni)
*****