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  • Barry Adams
  • 24 Jul, 2023
  • New York City

Stocks traded higher in trading as investors prepare to review earnings reports and the Federal Reserve's policy decision later in the week. 

Market averages edged higher as investors await earnings from several companies including Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet. 

About 740 companies are scheduled to release their quarterly results this week, including about 40% of the companies in the S&P 500 index. 

Nine-month long market rally is powered by large gains in a narrow list of stocks, after companies have reported better-than-expected earnings in the last three quarters. 

Investors are looking for clues how far companies can improve earnings and operating margin in the face of a 500 basis points increase in interest rates in the last fifteen months. 

Moreover, according to the Fed's previous announcements the worst of the rate increases are expected to be felt in the current quarter, and investors are awaiting forecasts of revenue and margins for the third quarter of 2023. 

Moreover, the Federal Reserve is scheduled to announce its rate decision on Wednesday, and market participants are factoring at least 25 basis points increase. 

Economists are also looking to understand how high rates are likely to go by the end of this year, in the face of tight labor market conditions.  

Despite the persistent drumbeat of a looming recession, the economy has been chugging along at a slower pace and investors are postponing the arrival of a recession every quarter to the next quarter for the last three quarters. 

The Federal Reserve has raised rates ten times over the last fifteen months and the economy has still not dipped into a recession and core inflation has stayed near 5%, significantly above the Fed's target rate of 2%. 

Generally, market indexes peak about six to nine months ahead of the arrival of a recession, but there is no sign that the markets are near a peak. 

The S&P Global US Composite PMI eased to 52.0 in July 2023, down from 53.2 in June, according to a preliminary estimate. 

The latest reading showed the weakest pace of expansion in private sector business activity since February, after service sector activity slowed to a five-month low, and manufacturing output was relatively unchanged.

The European Central Bank is expected to announce its rate decision on Thursday and the Bank of Japan is also set to announce its policy directive on the yield curve management on Friday. 

 

U.S. Indexes & Yields 

The S&P 500 index traded higher 0.4% to 4,554.99 and the Nasdaq Composite futures edged up 0.1% to 14,049.76. 

The yield on 2-year Treasury notes decreased to 4.83%, 10-year Treasury notes inched lower to 3.80% and 30-year Treasury bonds edged down to 3.89%. 

Crude oil increased $0.55 to $77.62 a barrel and natural gas prices increased a fraction to $2.71 a thermal unit. 

 

Stock Movers 

Domino's Pizza Inc increased 1.8% to $391.20 after the company reported revenue of $1.0 billion and $3.08 a share. 

AMC Entertainment Holding Inc soared 35.7% to $5.95 after a judge disallowed the company's plan to convert its preferred share to common share. 

Preferred units declined 2.2% to $1.90.  

The company said it has proposed a revised conversion plan. 

Ryanair Holdings plc declined 4% to $102.30 after the deep discount airline reported a surge in traffic, revenue and earnings. 

Revenue in the fiscal year 2024 first quarter ending in June increased 40% to Є3.65 billion after passenger count rose 11% to 50.4 million and load factor rose to 95% from 92% from a year ago. 

Profit after-tax soared 290% to Є663 million from Є170 million and earnings per share rose to 58.22 cents from 16.53 cents a year ago. 

 

European Indexes Lacked Direction, Spain's Post Election Turmoil 

European markets traded down after an inconclusive election in Spain and weak business condition surveys in the Euro Area kept market sentiment down. 

The IBEX index in Madrid fell as much as 0.8% after the right-wing block failed to achieve an absolute majority in Sunday's election in Spain. 

Right-wing block won 169 seats and the left-block secured 153, leaving no clear winner and leaving the country in a gridlock.  

Spain’s conservative Partido Popular party won 136 parliamentary seats, followed by the incumbent socialist party PSOE with 122 seats. 

Far-right party Vox lost its total seat count from the previous election to 33 seats, while the leftish Sumar party winning 31.

All parties failed to win the needed majority of 176 to form a government. The governing PSOE and Vox were considered as a possible coalition partner before the election, but their combined tally fell short of required majority to 169. 

The right leaning Popular Party led by Nunez Feijoo is hoping to become Spain's next prime minister but he will need support from several smaller parties. 

Spain]s political turmoil is likely to last several weeks while Feijoo attempts to build a coalition with the help of several smaller parties with different political philosophies. 

The HCOB Flash Eurozone Composite PMI Output Index, which measures manufacturing and services sector activities, declined to an eight-month low of 48.9 in July from 49.9 in June.

German economic activities contracted the most since November of last year and French output also shrank for the second month in a row. 

The S&P Global/CIPS composite Purchasing Managers' Index for the UK showed a preliminary reading of 50.7 in July,  a decline from 52.8 in June.

The UK's economic activities were anticipated to decline on the worries of restrained consumer spending in the face of elevated inflation and the ongoing supply chain disruption after Brexit. 

 

Europe Indexes & Yields

The DAX index increased 0.08% to 16,190.95, the CAC-40 index fell 0.07% to 7,427.31 and the FTSE 100 index increased 0.2% to 7,678.29. 

The yield on 10-year German bonds decreased higher to 2.37%, French bonds traded lower to 2.97%, the UK gilts edged down to 4.20% and Italian bonds increased to 4.02%.

The euro edged higher to $1.11, the British pound to $1.28 and the U.S. dollar fetched 86.49 Swiss cents

Brent crude increased $1.55 to $78.62 a barrel and the Dutch TTF natural gas increased €2.39 to €30.56 per MWh.

 

Europe Stock Movers

Stocks in Madrid declined after neither party achieved a clear majority to form a stable government. 

Banks led the decliners in Madrid and Bankinter, Unicaja, Caizabank and Banco Sabadell fell between 2% and 3%. 

Endesa dropped 3.2% to €19.22 and Indra Sistemas SA declined 3.1% to €12.30. 

Julius Baer Gruppe AG rose 7.0% to CHF 60.26 after the Swiss financial services firm reported strong quarterly results. 

Ocado Group Plc soared 11% to 764.0 pence after the company settled its long running intellectual property dispute with Norwegian robotics company AutoStore Holdings.   

Vodafone Group Plc increased 4% to 76.55 pence after the company reported better-than-expected revenue growth in its latest quarter and named a new CFO. 

Alstom SA rose 1% to €27.66 after the French power equipment company signed a contract worth up to €260 million with Germany-based RAILPOOL

S4 Capital PLC plunged 19.7% to 160.75 pence after the digital advertising and marketing company lowered its annual revenue growth core profit margin estimated citing the challenging macroeconomic environment. 

  • Scott Peters
  • 24 Jul, 2023
  • New York City

The S&P 500 index traded higher 0.2% to 4,574.26 and the Nasdaq Composite futures edged up 0.1% to 14,098.52. 

The yield on 2-year Treasury notes decreased to 4.83%, 10-year Treasury notes inched lower to 3.80% and 30-year Treasury bonds edged down to 3.89%. 

Domino's Pizza Inc increased 1.8% to $391.20 after the company reported revenue of $1.0 billion and $3.08 a share. 

AMC Entertainment Holding Inc soared 35.7% to $5.95 after a judge disallowed the company's plan to convert its preferred share to common share. 

Preferred units declined 2.2% to $1.90.  

The company said it has proposed a revised conversion plan. 

Ryanair Holdings plc declined 4% to $102.30 after the deep discount airline reported a surge in traffic, revenue and earnings. 

Revenue in the fiscal year 2024 first quarter ending in June increased 40% to Є3.65 billion after passenger count rose 11% to 50.4 million and load factor rose to 95% from 92% from a year ago. 

Profit after-tax soared 290% to Є663 million from Є170 million and earnings per share rose to 58.22 cents from 16.53 cents a year ago. 

  • Barry Adams
  • 24 Jul, 2023
  • New York City

Stocks traded slightly higher in early trading as investors prepare to review a barrage of earnings reports and the Federal Reserve's policy decision later in the week. 

Market averages edged higher as investors await earnings from several companies including Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet. 

About 740 companies are scheduled to release their quarterly results this week, including about 40% of the companies in the S&P 500 index. 

Nine-month long market rally is powered by large gains in a narrow list of stocks, after companies have reported better-than-expected earnings in the last three quarters. 

Investors are looking for clues how far companies can improve earnings and operating margin in the face of a 500 basis points increase in interest rates in the last fifteen months. 

Moreover, according to the Fed's previous announcements the worst of the rate increases are expected to be felt in the current quarter, and investors are awaiting forecasts of revenue and margins for the third quarter of 2023. 

Moreover, the Federal Reserve is scheduled to announce its rate decision on Wednesday, and market participants are factoring at least 25 basis points increase. 

Economists are also looking to understand how high rates are likely to go by the end of this year, in the face of tight labor market conditions.  

The European Central Bank is expected to announce its rate decision on Thursday and the Bank of Japan is also set to announce its policy directive on the yield curve management on Friday. 

 

U.S. Indexes & Yields 

The S&P 500 index traded higher 0.2% to 4,574.26 and the Nasdaq Composite futures edged up 0.1% to 14,098.52. 

The yield on 2-year Treasury notes decreased to 4.83%, 10-year Treasury notes inched lower to 3.80% and 30-year Treasury bonds edged down to 3.89%. 

Crude oil increased $0.55 to $77.62 a barrel and natural gas prices increased a fraction to $2.71 a thermal unit. 

 

Stock Movers 

Domino's Pizza Inc increased 1.8% to $391.20 after the company reported revenue of $1.0 billion and $3.08 a share. 

AMC Entertainment Holding Inc soared 35.7% to $5.95 after a judge disallowed the company's plan to convert its preferred share to common share. 

Preferred units declined 2.2% to $1.90.  

The company said it has proposed a revised conversion plan. 

Ryanair Holdings plc declined 4% to $102.30 after the deep discount airline reported a surge in traffic, revenue and earnings. 

Revenue in the fiscal year 2024 first quarter ending in June increased 40% to Є3.65 billion after passenger count rose 11% to 50.4 million and load factor rose to 95% from 92% from a year ago. 

Profit after-tax soared 290% to Є663 million from Є170 million and earnings per share rose to 58.22 cents from 16.53 cents a year ago. 

  • Inga Muller
  • 24 Jul, 2023
  • Frankfurt

European markets, bond yields and the euro edged lower after manufacturing and service activity surveys in July showed weakening activities. 

The DAX index increased 0.2% to 16,202.20, the CAC-40 index advanced 0.2% to 7,418.18 and the FTSE 100 index decreased 0.08% to 7,658.61. 

The yield on 10-year German bonds decreased higher to 2.37%, French bonds traded lower to 2.97%, the UK gilts edged down to 4.20% and Italian bonds increased to 4.02%.

Stocks in Madrid declined after neither party achieved a clear majority to form a stable government. 

Banks led the decliners in Madrid and Bankinter, Unicaja, Caizabank and Banco Sabadell fell between 2% and 3%. 

Endesa dropped 3.2% to €19.22 and Indra Sistemas SA declined 3.1% to €12.30. 

Julius Baer Gruppe AG rose 7.0% to CHF 60.26 after the Swiss financial services firm reported strong quarterly results. 

Ocado Group Plc soared 11% to 764.0 pence after the company settled its long running intellectual property dispute with Norwegian robotics company AutoStore Holdings.   

Vodafone Group Plc increased 4% to 76.55 pence after the company reported better-than-expected revenue growth in its latest quarter and named a new CFO. 

Alstom SA rose 1% to €27.66 after the French power equipment company signed a rolling stock contract worth up to €260 million with Germany-based RAILPOOL

S4 Capital PLC plunged 19.7% to 160.75 pence after the digital advertising and marketing company lowered its annual revenue growth core profit margin estimated citing the challenging macroeconomic environment. 

  • Bridgette Randall
  • 24 Jul, 2023
  • Frankfurt

European markets traded down after an inconclusive election in Spain and weak business condition surveys in the Euro Area kept market sentiment down. 

The IBEX index in Madrid fell as much as 0.8% after the right-wing block failed to achieve an absolute majority in Sunday's election in Spain. 

Right-wing block won 169 seats and the left-block secured 153, leaving no clear winner and leaving the country in a gridlock.  

Spain’s conservative Partido Popular party won 136 parliamentary seats, followed by the incumbent socialist party PSOE with 122 seats. 

Far-right party Vox lost its total seat count from the previous election to 33 seats, while the leftish Sumar party winning 31.

All parties failed to win the needed majority of 176 to form a government. The governing PSOE and Vox were considered as a possible coalition partner before the election, but their combined tally fell short of required majority to 169. 

The right leaning Popular Party led by Nunez Feijoo is hoping to become Spain's next prime minister but he will need support from several smaller parties. 

Spain]s political turmoil is likely to last several weeks while Feijoo attempts to build a coalition with the help of several smaller parties with different political philosophies. 

The HCOB Flash Eurozone Composite PMI Output Index, which measures manufacturing and services sector activities, declined to an eight-month low of 48.9 in July from 49.9 in June.

German economic activities contracted the most since November of last year and French output also shrank for the second month in a row. 

The S&P Global/CIPS composite Purchasing Managers' Index for the UK showed a preliminary reading of 50.7 in July,  a decline from 52.8 in June.

The UK's economic activities were anticipated to decline on the worries of restrained consumer spending in the face of elevated inflation and the ongoing supply chain disruption after Brexit. 

 

Europe Indexes & Yields

The DAX index increased 0.2% to 16,202.20, the CAC-40 index advanced 0.2% to 7,418.18 and the FTSE 100 index decreased 0.08% to 7,658.61. 

The yield on 10-year German bonds decreased higher to 2.37%, French bonds traded lower to 2.97%, the UK gilts edged down to 4.20% and Italian bonds increased to 4.02%.

The euro edged higher to $1.11, the British pound to $1.28 and the U.S. dollar fetched 86.49 Swiss cents

Brent crude increased $0.30 to $81.37 a barrel and the Dutch TTF natural gas increased €0.84 to €29.01 per MWh.

 

Europe Stock Movers

Stocks in Madrid declined after neither party achieved a clear majority to form a stable government. 

Banks led the decliners in Madrid and Bankinter, Unicaja, Caizabank and Banco Sabadell fell between 2% and 3%. 

Endesa dropped 3.2% to €19.22 and Indra Sistemas SA declined 3.1% to €12.30. 

Julius Baer Gruppe AG rose 7.0% to CHF 60.26 after the Swiss financial services firm reported strong quarterly results. 

Ocado Group Plc soared 11% to 764.0 pence after the company settled its long running intellectual property dispute with Norwegian robotics company AutoStore Holdings.   

Vodafone Group Plc increased 4% to 76.55 pence after the company reported better-than-expected revenue growth in its latest quarter and named a new CFO. 

Alstom SA rose 1% to €27.66 after the French power equipment company signed a contract worth up to €260 million with Germany-based RAILPOOL

S4 Capital PLC plunged 19.7% to 160.75 pence after the digital advertising and marketing company lowered its annual revenue growth core profit margin estimated citing the challenging macroeconomic environment. 

  • Barry Adams
  • 21 Jul, 2023
  • New York City

Market indexes on the final day of this week are expected to trade volatile after expiry of options and futures add a new dimension. 

Tech stocks rebounded from a bruising session on Thursday after tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 2%.

Market sentiment has decidedly stayed positive after eight weeks rallying and bearish voices of looming recession, stubborn inflation and higher interest rates ahead have been drowned out. 

With the recent cooling inflation trend, the Federal Reserve's policy meeting next week is already forcing investors to take sides. 

Most market participants are factoring a rate hike of 25 basis points at the Fed's policy meeting next week but what happens to rates after the next meeting is dividing investors in two camps, higher investors for longer and rate pause followed by a gradual decline in rates. 

Investors also reacted to the new batch of corporate results and CSX and American Express fell on earnings worries. 

 

U.S. Indexes & Yields 

The S&P 500 index traded higher 0.1% to 4,542.43 and the Nasdaq Composite futures edged up 0.2% to 14,104.76. 

The yield on 2-year Treasury notes decreased to 4.84%, 10-year Treasury notes inched lower to 3.82% and 30-year Treasury bonds edged down to 3.88%. 

Crude oil increased $0.45 to $76.10 a barrel and natural gas prices decreased 2 cents to $2.73 a thermal unit. 

 

Stock Movers 

CSX Corporation declined 4% to $32.34 after the railroad operator reported earnings that missed some investors' expectations. 

American Express declined 3.3% to $170.89 after the payment processor reported weaker-than-expected revenue but earnings were ahead of market expectations. 

AutoNation Inc plunged 9.2% to $160.68 despite the largest automotive dealer network operator reporting better-than-expected revenue and earnings. 

Capital One Financial Corp rose 0.6% to $115.58 after the credit card lender and banking services provider reported mixed quarterly results. 

The company also reported deposits at the end of the quarter declined 2%, confirming the declining trend at all major banks and regional banks. 

Intuitive Surgical, Inc 2.5% to $338.05 after the robotic surgery device maker reported weaker-than-expected revenue in system sales but the company met earnings expectations.  

  • Inga Muller
  • 21 Jul, 2023
  • New York City

The DAX index increased 0.2% to 16,147.21, the CAC-40 index advanced 0.4% to 7,352.81 and the FTSE 100 index increased 0.6% to 7,637.29. 

The yield on 10-year German bonds increased higher to 2.44%, French bonds traded higher to 3.0%, the UK gilts edged up to 4.28% and Italian bonds increased to 4.06%.

Danske Bank AS rose 1.5% to €22.0 after the largest Danish bank lifted its annual earnings outlook. 

SSAB AB dropped 13% to 65.78 kronor after the Swedish steelmaker said operating profit plunged by 50% in the second quarter. 

Glencore Plc increased 0.05% to 472.85 pence after the mining company reported strong gains in production in the first quarter. 

SAP SE declined 3.3% to €122.22 after the German information system company reported weaker-than-expected cloud segment revenue growth. 

Delivery Hero SE declined 1% to €40.01 after the delivery service provider agreed to acquire a 37% stake in Saudi Arabia based Hungerstation Holding Limited for $297 million.  

  • Bridgette Randall
  • 21 Jul, 2023
  • Frankfurt

European stocks, bonds and currencies were in focus after a week of volatile trading. 

Stock market indexes in Paris, Frankfurt and London traded down after three days of gains as investors reassessed economic outlook in the face of a sudden spike in wheat prices. 

Wheat prices soared as much as 10% after Russia ended its agreement to permit export of grains from Ukraine and stepped up its bombing campaign on Ukraine's seaports. 

The sudden surge in wheat prices stoked fears of another cycle of inflation starting with food prices.  

The Euro, British pound and Swiss franc traded slightly lower after the U.S. dollar  advanced 1% in what most analysts consider a technical rebound. 

The government bond yields advanced on Friday as the European Central Bank, the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve are set to lift rates higher beginning next week. 

Natural gas prices also surged 6% on top of 4% rise in Thursday's trading to Є30 per MWh on the rising demand for gas powered electric power plants after record temperatures and across the continent drove electricity demand for air cooling.   

Despite the spike in price and demand for natural gas, storage of energy fuel is near 82% full in the region, assuring ample supply.   

In other economic news, UK retail sales rose 0.7% in June from the downwardly revised 1.0% increase in May, the Office for National Statistics reported Friday. 

Retail sales rose for the third month in a row on a monthly basis but declined 1.0% in June from a year ago, the fifteenth month of decline in a row.  

Market sentiment in stocks was decidedly cautious on the final day of trading this week as investors digested the latest batch of earnings. 

 

Europe Indexes & Yields

The DAX index increased 0.2% to 16,147.21, the CAC-40 index advanced 0.4% to 7,352.81 and the FTSE 100 index increased 0.6% to 7,637.29. 

The yield on 10-year German bonds increased higher to 2.44%, French bonds traded higher to 3.0%, the UK gilts edged up to 4.28% and Italian bonds increased to 4.06%.

The euro edged higher to $1.11, the British pound to $1.28 and the U.S. dollar fetched 86.66 Swiss cents

Brent crude increased $0.71 to $80.38 a barrel and the Dutch TTF natural gas increased €1.98 to €30.0 per MWh.

 

Europe Stock Movers

Danske Bank AS rose 1.5% to €22.0 after the largest Danish bank lifted its annual earnings outlook. 

SSAB AB dropped 13% to 65.78 kronor after the Swedish steelmaker said operating profit plunged by 50% in the second quarter. 

Glencore Plc increased 0.05% to 472.85 pence after the mining company reported strong gains in production in the first quarter. 

SAP SE declined 3.3% to €122.22 after the German information system company reported weaker-than-expected cloud segment revenue growth. 

Delivery Hero SE declined 1% to €40.01 after the delivery service provider agreed to acquire a 37% stake in Saudi Arabia based Hungerstation Holding Limited for $297 million.  

  • Barry Adams
  • 20 Jul, 2023
  • New York City

After weeks of optimism, tech stocks faced a wall of reality as investors debated tech earnings, rate path and odds of a recession. 

The Nasdaq index turned lower after Tesla and Netflix worries weighed on market sentiment. 

Tesla reported record sales and earnings but operating margin dropped to the lowest in five quarters. Moreover, executives also highlighted the likely decline of vehicle sales in the current quarter because of factory maintenance. 

But market participants interpreted the step as a way for the electric vehicle maker to focus on factory retooling at the time of weak sales environment in the U.S., China and in Europe.  

The yields of 2-year, 10-year and 30-year Treasury securities rose on the worries of the reigniting of food inflation after Russia canceled Black Sea deal yesterday.

Wheat price advanced for the third day in a row and jumped to $7.30 a bushel, following a9% jump in yesterday's session, the largest single-day gain since 2012. 

Initial jobless claims declined 9,000 to 228,000 in the last week, the lowest level in two months, the Department of Labor reported Thursday. 

The unexpected decline in weekly claims highlighted ongoing tough labor market conditions in several sectors including leisure and entertainment, food services and warehouse and transportation. 

The four-week moving averages eased to 237,500, the lowest level in six weeks, indicating a tight labor market. 

Existing home sales declined 3.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.16 million, the lowest level in five months, the National Association of Realtors reported Thursday.  

There were just 1.08 million homes available for sale at the end of June, about three months of supply, far less than six months supply needed for the normal market functioning. 

Despite the fall in sales, median home price edged slightly lower to 410,200 from 414,000 a year ago. 

Home sales have been on the skids not for the lack of demand but for the tight supply. 

"There are simply not enough homes for sale. The market can easily absorb a doubling of inventory", said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.

Home sales in June dropped to the slowest pace since 2009 and dropped 18.9% from a year ago. 

 

U.S. Indexes & Yields 

The S&P 500 index traded lower 0.02% to 4,563.17 and the Nasdaq Composite futures edged down 2.0% to 14,063.36. 

The Dow Jones extended its rally to the ninth day in a row by 0.5% to 35,225.18, the longest since 2017 after Johnson & Johnson reported better-than-expected earnings and lifted its annual estimate. 

The yield on 2-year Treasury notes decreased to 4.82%, 10-year Treasury notes inched lower to 3.82% and 30-year Treasury bonds edged down to 3.91%. 

Crude oil increased $0.82 to $76.17 a barrel and natural gas prices increased 12 cents to $2.73 a thermal unit. 

 

Stock Movers 

Tesla Inc declined 5.7% to $274.92 after the electric vehicle maker reported quarterly results and executives indicated lower sales volume in the current quarter because of plant maintenance. 

Total revenue jumped 47% to $24.9 billion from $16.9 billion and net income attributable to common stockholders increased 20% to $2.7 billion from $2.3 billion and diluted earnings per share rose 91 cents from 76 cents a year ago. 

Quarterly revenue and earnings were ahead of market expectations and operating margin fell to a low of at least five quarters to 9.6% from the high of 17.2% in third quarter of 2022 on higher discounting.  

Free cash flow jumped 62% to $1.0 billion from $621 million a year ago. 

Las Vegas Sands Corp dropped 3% to $57.85 after the casino and resort company reported mixed quarterly results. 

Revenue in the quarter soared to $2.5 billion from $1.0 billion and net income swung to a profit of $368 million from a loss of $414 million and diluted earnings per share increased to 41 cents from (38) cents. 

The company reinstated its quarterly cash dividend of 20 cents a share. 

Netflix Inc declined 8.3% to $437.95 after the video content streaming company reported weak revenue growth in the second quarter.  

Revenue rose 2.7% to $8.2 billion from $7.9 billion and net income was nearly unchanged at $1.49 billion and diluted earnings per share rose to $3.29 from $3.20 a year ago. 

Free cash flow jumped to $1.3 billion from $13 million and global streaming paid members increased 8% to 238.39 million from 220. 67 a year ago. 

 

European Markets Rebounded

Market averages in Europe attempted a rebound and investors reviewed another batch of fresh earnings. 

European government bond yields edged higher and the yield on Italian bonds jumped above 4% and stayed below the UK gilts. 

Investors are anticipating the European Central Bank to raise hike rates at its next policy meeting but the rates are still not restrictive. 

Investors are also worried that the uneven economic recovery in China could dampen demand for industrial and luxury goods from the region but the demand in the U.S. could hold if the Federal Reserve manages to avoid dipping the economy into a recession. 

Closer to home, German's producer price inflation slowed in June to 0.1% from 1% annual pace in May, the Federal Statistics Office or DeStatis reported Thursday.   

Producer prices fell 0.3% on a monthly basis in June after falling 1.4% in May, largely driven by a sharp fall in prices of energy by 5% and electricity by 12.4%. 

 

Europe Indexes & Yields

The DAX index increased 0.6% to 16,204.22, the CAC-40 index advanced 0.8% to 7,384.91 and the FTSE 100 index increased 0.8% to 7,646.05. 

The yield on 10-year German bonds increased higher to 2.41%, French bonds traded lower to 2.97%, the UK gilts edged up to 4.21% and Italian bonds increased to 4.09%.

The euro edged higher to $1.19, the British pound to $1.28 and the U.S. dollar fetched 85.88 Swiss cents

Brent crude increased $0.30 to $79.79 a barrel and the Dutch TTF natural gas increased €1.06 to €28.02 per MWh.

 

Europe Stock Movers

ABB Ltd gained 2.9% to CHF 34.42 after the Swiss engineering company reported a rise in earnings on strong revenue growth. 

Revenue in the second quarter rose 13% to $8.1 billion from $7.2 billion and  earnings soared 139% to $906 million from $379 million and basic earnings per share jumped to 49 cents from 20 cents a year ago.  

New orders in the quarter declined to $8.67 billion from $8.81 billion with 5% increase in the Americas and mid-single digit increase in the U.S.

ASML Holding NV declined 4% to €626.10 and extended two day losses to 7% despite the Netherlands-based semiconductor equipment maker reported higher revenue and earnings and said demand from China remained strong. 

Electrolux AB plunged 20.5% to kr122.0 after the Swedish appliance maker reported sales declined 8% in its latest quarter. 

Revenue in the quarter declined 8.4% to SEK 32.6 billion and the company swung to a loss of SEK 648 million from a profit of SEK 257 million and diluted earnings per share was (SEK 2.43) from a profit of SEK 0.93. 

Sales were impacted by weaker demand and customers opting for cheaper priced products.