- Bridgette Randall
- 06 Feb, 2025
- London
Stock market indexes across Europe advanced, and investors reviewed the latest batch of corporate results.
Benchmark indexes in Frankfurt and London hovered near record highs amid optimism about earnings, despite a weak outlook for growth in economic activities and exports.
Investors shifted their focus to corporate results and reviewed the latest earnings from 90 companies, including Volvo Cars, Arcelor Mittal, Siemens Healthineers, Societe Generale, ING, and Maersk.
World markets have experienced heightened volatility after the newly appointed U.S. presidential administration announced and then dropped the threat of tariffs on Mexico and Canada and made a U-turn on trade restrictions on China.
The U.S. trade policy uncertainty weighed on the market sentiment, and investors are bracing for a possible list of trade restrictions and tariffs on goods shipped from the European Union.
Crude oil prices eased for the second day in a row amid a supply glut and a lack of demand growth, and gold hovered near record highs as investors feared Trump's tariff war would support higher inflation.
On the economic front, German factory orders rebounded 6.9% from the previous month in December, according to the latest data from Destatis, the federal statistical office.
A 55% surge in transportation orders lifted the overall orders, and orders rebounded from a downwardly revised 5.2% decline in November.
For the full year 2024, seasonally adjusted factory orders decreased 3.0%.
Europe Indexes and Yields
The DAX index increased by 0.70% to 21,737.00, the CAC-40 index rose 0.69% to 7,946.14, and the FTSE 100 index advanced by 1.13% to 8,721.09.
The yield on 10-year German bonds inched higher to 2.37%, French bonds increased to 3.09%, the UK gilts moved up to 4.60%, and Italian bonds edged higher to 3.45%.
The euro decreased to $1.04; the British pound was lower at $1.24; and the U.S. dollar was higher and traded at 90.51 Swiss cents.
Brent crude increased $0.47 to $75.08 a barrel, and the Dutch TTF natural gas was higher by €0.17 to €49.91 per MWh.
Europe Stock Movers
A.P. Moeller Maersk soared 9.2% to DKK 11,885.0 after the Danish shipping company and port terminal operator reported better-than-expected fourth quarter results.
ArcelorMittal SA jumped 1.7% to €24.40 after the second-largest steel company's fourth quarter results surpassed market expectations.
The losses in the quarter shrank to $390 million from $2.9 billion, and steel production advanced to 14 million tons from 13.7 million tons a year ago, respectively.
In the full year 2024, the company's net income advanced to $1.3 billion from $919 million a year ago.
Volvo Car AB dropped 9.2% to 21.50 krona after the vehicle maker reported a decrease in operating profit in the fourth quarter, and the company estimated turbulent 2025 amid market uncertainties.
Siemens Healthineers AG jumped 5.3% to €57.16 after the German medical equipment company's fiscal first quarter sales surpassed market expectations.
In addition, the company reiterated its fiscal 2025 outlook.
ING Groep NV declined 2.9% to €15.51 after the Dutch bank said annual total income in 2025 is likely to be flat compared to the previous year.
Société Générale SA surged 9.2% to €33.79 after the French bank said fourth-quarter profit doubled on higher revenues.
Pernod Ricard SA advanced 2.7% to €104.90 despite the French wine and spirit maker lowering its outlook for the current fiscal year.
- Bridgette Randall
- 06 Feb, 2025
- London
Stock market indexes across Europe advanced, and investors reviewed the latest batch of corporate results.
Benchmark indexes in Frankfurt and London hovered near record highs amid optimism about earnings, despite a weak outlook for growth in economic activities and exports.
Investors shifted their focus to corporate results and reviewed the latest earnings from 90 companies, including Volvo Cars, Arcelor Mittal, Siemens Healthineers, Societe Generale, ING, and Maersk.
World markets have experienced heightened volatility after the newly appointed U.S. presidential administration announced and then dropped the threat of tariffs on Mexico and Canada and made a U-turn on trade restrictions on China.
The U.S. trade policy uncertainty weighed on the market sentiment, and investors are bracing for a possible list of trade restrictions and tariffs on goods shipped from the European Union.
Crude oil prices eased for the second day in a row amid a supply glut and a lack of demand growth, and gold hovered near record highs as investors feared Trump's tariff war would support higher inflation.
On the economic front, German factory orders rebounded 6.9% from the previous month in December, according to the latest data from Destatis, the federal statistical office.
A 55% surge in transportation orders lifted the overall orders, and orders rebounded from a downwardly revised 5.2% decline in November.
For the full year 2024, seasonally adjusted factory orders decreased 3.0%.
Europe Indexes and Yields
The DAX index increased by 0.70% to 21,737.00, the CAC-40 index rose 0.69% to 7,946.14, and the FTSE 100 index advanced by 1.13% to 8,721.09.
The yield on 10-year German bonds inched higher to 2.37%, French bonds increased to 3.09%, the UK gilts moved up to 4.60%, and Italian bonds edged higher to 3.45%.
The euro decreased to $1.04; the British pound was lower at $1.24; and the U.S. dollar was higher and traded at 90.51 Swiss cents.
Brent crude increased $0.47 to $75.08 a barrel, and the Dutch TTF natural gas was higher by €0.17 to €49.91 per MWh.
Europe Stock Movers
A.P. Moeller Maersk soared 9.2% to DKK 11,885.0 after the Danish shipping company and port terminal operator reported better-than-expected fourth quarter results.
ArcelorMittal SA jumped 1.7% to €24.40 after the second-largest steel company's fourth quarter results surpassed market expectations.
The losses in the quarter shrank to $390 million from $2.9 billion, and steel production advanced to 14 million tons from 13.7 million tons a year ago, respectively.
In the full year 2024, the company's net income advanced to $1.3 billion from $919 million a year ago.
Volvo Car AB dropped 9.2% to 21.50 krona after the vehicle maker reported a decrease in operating profit in the fourth quarter, and the company estimated turbulent 2025 amid market uncertainties.
Siemens Healthineers AG jumped 5.3% to €57.16 after the German medical equipment company's fiscal first quarter sales surpassed market expectations.
In addition, the company reiterated its fiscal 2025 outlook.
ING Groep NV declined 2.9% to €15.51 after the Dutch bank said annual total income in 2025 is likely to be flat compared to the previous year.
Société Générale SA surged 9.2% to €33.79 after the French bank said fourth-quarter profit doubled on higher revenues.
Pernod Ricard SA advanced 2.7% to €104.90 despite the French wine and spirit maker lowering its outlook for the current fiscal year.
- Akira Ito
- 06 Feb, 2025
- Tokyo
Stock market indexes in Tokyo advanced for the third day in a row, tracking gains in tech stocks on Wall Street.
The Nikkei 225 stock average and the TOPIX advanced between 0.3% and 0.6% as investors shifted their attention away from tariff threats to corporate earnings.
Investors reacted to the latest batch of earnings, including results from Toyota Motor, Renesas Electronics, Tokyo Electron, Nippon Electric Glass, Nomura Holdings, and Yamaha.
In addition, Honda and Nissan were in focus amid reports that the two companies may walk away from the merger deal after Honda proposed to acquire Nissan and operate as one of its subsidiaries.
Despite the recent gains in benchmark indexes, investors were cautious amid worries of possible new trade restrictions in the U.S., after the newly appointed presidential administration slapped additional 10% tariffs on goods shipped from China and Hong Kong.
Japan Stocks and Indexes
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.6% to 39,066.53, and the TOPIX advanced 0.3% to 2,752.20.
Honda Motor declined 4% to ¥1,440.0, and Nissan Motor jumped 7% to ¥415.10 after the two companies ended their merger talks, and
Honda instead proposed to acquire Nissan.
Renesas Electronics jumped 12.6% to ¥2,305.50 after the advanced semiconductor chipmaker reported full-year 2024 results.
Consolidated revenue decreased 8.2% to 1.4 trillion yen, and profit plunged 35% to 219.4 billion yen from 337.3 billion yen.
This was mainly attributable to a decrease in revenue from the industrial, infrastructure, and IoT business driven by weakening demand, although revenue increase in the automotive business was driven by weakening yen and channel inventory expansion.
Nippon Electric Glass soared 9% to ¥3,702.0 after the company announced a stock repurchase plan.
The company said it plans to acquire 7 million common shares, or 8.7% of total outstanding shares, for about 20 billion yen, between February 6 and December 23, 2025.
Marubeni Corp. increased 4% to ¥2,399.50, and the diversified conglomerate reported better-than-expected results in the fiscal third quarter ending in December.
Revenue increased 9% to 1.83 trillion yen, and net income advanced 56% to 187.06 billion yen.
The company raised its estimate for annual dividends to 95 yen from 90 yen and the full-year net income estimate to 500 billion yen from the previous estimate of 480 billion yen.
The company announced a stock buyback program worth up to 30 billion yen or 30 million shares between February 6 and June 30.
- Akira Ito
- 06 Feb, 2025
- Tokyo
Stock market indexes in Tokyo advanced for the third day in a row, tracking gains in tech stocks on Wall Street.
The Nikkei 225 stock average and the TOPIX advanced between 0.3% and 0.6% as investors shifted their attention away from tariff threats to corporate earnings.
Investors reacted to the latest batch of earnings, including results from Toyota Motor, Renesas Electronics, Tokyo Electron, Nippon Electric Glass, Nomura Holdings, and Yamaha.
In addition, Honda and Nissan were in focus amid reports that the two companies may walk away from the merger deal after Honda proposed to acquire Nissan and operate as one of its subsidiaries.
Despite the recent gains in benchmark indexes, investors were cautious amid worries of possible new trade restrictions in the U.S., after the newly appointed presidential administration slapped additional 10% tariffs on goods shipped from China and Hong Kong.
Japan Stocks and Indexes
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.6% to 39,066.53, and the TOPIX advanced 0.3% to 2,752.20.
Honda Motor declined 4% to ¥1,440.0, and Nissan Motor jumped 7% to ¥415.10 after the two companies ended their merger talks, and
Honda instead proposed to acquire Nissan.
Renesas Electronics jumped 12.6% to ¥2,305.50 after the advanced semiconductor chipmaker reported full-year 2024 results.
Consolidated revenue decreased 8.2% to 1.4 trillion yen, and profit plunged 35% to 219.4 billion yen from 337.3 billion yen.
This was mainly attributable to a decrease in revenue from the industrial, infrastructure, and IoT business driven by weakening demand, although revenue increase in the automotive business was driven by weakening yen and channel inventory expansion.
Nippon Electric Glass soared 9% to ¥3,702.0 after the company announced a stock repurchase plan.
The company said it plans to acquire 7 million common shares, or 8.7% of total outstanding shares, for about 20 billion yen, between February 6 and December 23, 2025.
Marubeni Corp. increased 4% to ¥2,399.50, and the diversified conglomerate reported better-than-expected results in the fiscal third quarter ending in December.
Revenue increased 9% to 1.83 trillion yen, and net income advanced 56% to 187.06 billion yen.
The company raised its estimate for annual dividends to 95 yen from 90 yen and the full-year net income estimate to 500 billion yen from the previous estimate of 480 billion yen.
The company announced a stock buyback program worth up to 30 billion yen or 30 million shares between February 6 and June 30.
- Li Chen
- 06 Feb, 2025
- Hong Kong
Stock market indexes in China and Hong Kong rebounded, and investors remained cautious amid U.S. trade policy uncertainty.
The Hang Seng index increased 0.5%, and the CSI 300 index advanced 0.8%, and investors pinned their hopes that trade tensions between the U.S. and China will ease in the months ahead.
Despite the loud rhetoric from the Trump administration and an increase in U.S. tariffs, China's exports have continued to rise over the last eight years, including in the first 4-year term of Donald Trump.
However, markets are bracing for heightened volatility amid policy reversal and chaotic U.S. presidential administration.
The U.S. Postal Service reversed its plans to halt processing goods shipped from China and Hong Kong only hours after implementing it.
The move will avoid duty on Chinese goods worth less than $800 under the "de minimis" rule, which will continue the flow of cheap goods sourced from online markets operated by Chinese e-commerce companies.
Nearly half of all goods entering the U.S. and processed under the de minimis policy originated from China and Hong Kong, according to a U.S. Congressional Research Service report released in June 2023.
About $245 billion worth of Chinese goods were shipped annually to the U.S., and about 3 million packages arrive daily to the U.S. from China and Hong Kong, according to estimates from industry sources.
Despite the removal of the temporary block on processing inbound shipments from China, tensions remained high, and investors are bracing for additional trade barriers for Chinese goods shipped via Mexico, Vietnam, and other third countries.
China Indexes and Stock Movers
The Hang Seng index advanced 0.5% to 20,700.30, and the CSI 300 index gained 0.8% to 3,825.81.
E-commerce companies were in focus after the U.S. Postal Service made a U-turn on processing inbound shipments from China and Hong Kong.
Alibaba Group increased 0.2% to $97.75, Meituan decreased 0.2% to HK $149.20, JD.com added 0.3% to HK $157.0, and Tencent Holdings declined 0.3% to HK $416.80.
China Literature Ltd increased 8.1% to HK $29.15, and the Tencent-backed e-book seller extended this year's gains to 19%.
Semiconductor stocks advanced in the hopes that Chinese companies will find a way around the U.S. sanctions to continue to improve their production capabilities.
Hua Hong Semiconductor advanced 5.2% to HK $26.55, and SMIC advanced 5.5% to HK $47.25.
- Li Chen
- 06 Feb, 2025
- Hong Kong
Stock market indexes in China and Hong Kong rebounded, and investors remained cautious amid U.S. trade policy uncertainty.
The Hang Seng index increased 0.5%, and the CSI 300 index advanced 0.8%, and investors pinned their hopes that trade tensions between the U.S. and China will ease in the months ahead.
Despite the loud rhetoric from the Trump administration and an increase in U.S. tariffs, China's exports have continued to rise over the last eight years, including in the first 4-year term of Donald Trump.
However, markets are bracing for heightened volatility amid policy reversal and chaotic U.S. presidential administration.
The U.S. Postal Service reversed its plans to halt processing goods shipped from China and Hong Kong only hours after implementing it.
The move will avoid duty on Chinese goods worth less than $800 under the "de Minimus" rule, which will continue the flow of cheap goods sourced from online markets operated by Chinese e-commerce companies.
About $245 billion worth of Chinese goods are shipped annually to the U.S., and about 3 million packages arrive daily to the U.S. from China and Hong Kong.
Despite the removal of the temporary block on processing inbound shipments from China, tensions remained high, and investors are bracing for additional trade barriers for Chinese goods shipped via Mexico, Vietnam, and other third countries.
China Indexes and Stock Movers
The Hang Seng index advanced 0.5% to 20,700.30, and the CSI 300 index gained 0.8% to 3,825.81.
E-commerce companies were in focus after the U.S. Postal Service made a U-turn on processing inbound shipments from China and Hong Kong.
Alibaba Group increased 0.2% to $97.75, Meituan decreased 0.2% to HK $149.20, JD.com added 0.3% to HK $157.0, and Tencent Holdings declined 0.3% to HK $416.80.
China Literature Ltd increased 8.1% to HK $29.15, and the Tencent-backed e-book seller extended this year's gains to 19%.
Semiconductor stocks advanced in the hopes that Chinese companies will find a way around the U.S. sanctions to continue to improve their production capabilities.
Hua Hong Semiconductor advanced 5.2% to HK $26.55, and SMIC advanced 5.5% to HK $47.25.
- Arun Goswami
- 06 Feb, 2025
- Mumbai
Mumbai stocks remained under pressure ahead of the RBI's rate decisions and persistent selling by foreign investors.
The Sensex index decreased by 0.2% to 78,079.80, and the Nifty index declined by 0.3% to 23,633.40.
On the Mumbai stock exchange, 32 stocks traded at their 52-week highs, and 39 stocks traded at their 52-week lows.
The yield on the 10-year Indian government bonds inched lower to 6.7%, and the Indian rupee hovered near a record and traded at 87.52 against the U.S. dollar.
Reliance Power Ltd. increased 8.2% to ₹43.16 after the energy service provider swung to a profit from a year ago in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter increased to ₹2,159.4 crore from ₹1,998.8 crore, net income swung to a profit to ₹42 crore from a loss of ₹1,136 crore, and diluted earnings per share jumped to 0.7 paisa from a loss of ₹2.98 a year ago.
Swiggy Ltd. decreased 3.2% to ₹404.85, and the online delivery platform operator reported a 72% jump in its quarterly losses.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter increased to ₹4,095.8 crore from ₹3,130.9 crore, net loss expanded to ₹799 crore from ₹574 crore, and diluted loss per share increased to ₹3.48 from ₹2.61 a year ago.
Solar Industries India Ltd. rose 0.5% to ₹9,693.45 after the explosive devices and ammunition maker reported a 38% surge in the December quarter revenue.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter increased to ₹1,982.6 crore from ₹1,440.1 crore, after-tax profit rose to ₹337.5 crore from ₹221.9 crore, and diluted earnings per share jumped to ₹34.80 from ₹22.47 a year ago.
Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. rose 3.7% to ₹254.15 after the paint maker and retailer reported a four-fold increase in earnings in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue increased to ₹1,963.4 crore from ₹1,938.8 crore, net income jumped to ₹662.3 crore from ₹152.1 crore, and diluted earnings per share rose to ₹8.41 from ₹1.91 a year ago.
Info Edge (India) Ltd. advanced 1.8% to ₹8,088.90, and the parent company of jobs portal Naukri provider reported a sharp increase in revenue and earnings.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter increased to ₹909.4 crore from ₹659.8 crore, after-tax profit rose to ₹288.4 crore from ₹119.4 crore, and diluted earnings per share jumped to ₹18.66 from ₹11.67 a year ago.
Page Industries Ltd. dropped 4.2% to ₹43,860.05 despite the innerwear and loungewear maker and retailer saying profit soared 34% in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter increased to ₹1,327.1 crore from ₹1,234.3 crore, net income jumped to ₹204.7 crore from ₹152.4 crore, and diluted earnings per share rose to ₹183.48 from ₹136.59 a year ago.
Zydus Wellness Ltd. advanced 0.4% to ₹1,804.55 after the generic pharmaceuticals maker reported a sharp increase in revenue and earnings.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter increased to ₹465.7 crore from ₹403.2 crore, after-tax profit jumped to ₹6.4 crore from ₹0.3 crore, and diluted earnings per share advanced to ₹1.01 from 5 paise a year ago.
Vipul Ltd. fell 3.6% to ₹14.20, and the residential and commercial real estate developer reported a decline in quarterly revenue and earnings.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter decreased to ₹14.1 crore from ₹170.7 crore, net income dropped to ₹3.7 crore from ₹63.2 crore, and diluted earnings per share fell to 31 paisa from ₹5.27 a year ago.
- Arun Goswami
- 06 Feb, 2025
- Mumbai
Mumbai stocks remained under pressure ahead of the RBI's rate decisions and persistent selling by foreign investors.
The Sensex index decreased by 0.2% to 78,079.80, and the Nifty index declined by 0.3% to 23,633.40.
On the Mumbai stock exchange, 32 stocks traded at their 52-week highs, and 39 stocks traded at their 52-week lows.
The yield on the 10-year Indian government bonds inched lower to 6.7%, and the Indian rupee hovered near a record and traded at 87.52 against the U.S. dollar.
Reliance Power Ltd. increased 8.2% to ₹43.16 after the energy service provider swung to a profit from a year ago in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter increased to ₹2,159.4 crore from ₹1,998.8 crore, net income swung to a profit to ₹42 crore from a loss of ₹1,136 crore, and diluted earnings per share jumped to 0.7 paisa from a loss of ₹2.98 a year ago.
Swiggy Ltd. decreased 3.2% to ₹404.85, and the online delivery platform operator reported a 72% jump in its quarterly losses.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter increased to ₹4,095.8 crore from ₹3,130.9 crore, net loss expanded to ₹799 crore from ₹574 crore, and diluted loss per share increased to ₹3.48 from ₹2.61 a year ago.
Solar Industries India Ltd. rose 0.5% to ₹9,693.45 after the explosive devices and ammunition maker reported a 38% surge in the December quarter revenue.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter increased to ₹1,982.6 crore from ₹1,440.1 crore, after-tax profit rose to ₹337.5 crore from ₹221.9 crore, and diluted earnings per share jumped to ₹34.80 from ₹22.47 a year ago.
Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. rose 3.7% to ₹254.15 after the paint maker and retailer reported a four-fold increase in earnings in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue increased to ₹1,963.4 crore from ₹1,938.8 crore, net income jumped to ₹662.3 crore from ₹152.1 crore, and diluted earnings per share rose to ₹8.41 from ₹1.91 a year ago.
Info Edge (India) Ltd. advanced 1.8% to ₹8,088.90, and the parent company of jobs portal Naukri provider reported a sharp increase in revenue and earnings.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter increased to ₹909.4 crore from ₹659.8 crore, after-tax profit rose to ₹288.4 crore from ₹119.4 crore, and diluted earnings per share jumped to ₹18.66 from ₹11.67 a year ago.
Page Industries Ltd. dropped 4.2% to ₹43,860.05 despite the innerwear and loungewear maker and retailer saying profit soared 34% in the December quarter.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter increased to ₹1,327.1 crore from ₹1,234.3 crore, net income jumped to ₹204.7 crore from ₹152.4 crore, and diluted earnings per share rose to ₹183.48 from ₹136.59 a year ago.
Zydus Wellness Ltd. advanced 0.4% to ₹1,804.55 after the generic pharmaceuticals maker reported a sharp increase in revenue and earnings.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter increased to ₹465.7 crore from ₹403.2 crore, after-tax profit jumped to ₹6.4 crore from ₹0.3 crore, and diluted earnings per share advanced to ₹1.01 from 5 paise a year ago.
Vipul Ltd. fell 3.6% to ₹14.20, and the residential and commercial real estate developer reported a decline in quarterly revenue and earnings.
Consolidated revenue in the December quarter decreased to ₹14.1 crore from ₹170.7 crore, net income dropped to ₹3.7 crore from ₹63.2 crore, and diluted earnings per share fell to 31 paisa from ₹5.27 a year ago.