Newsquawk Daily European Equity Opening News - 16th March 2026

ASIA

APAC stocks mostly declined amid cautiousness at the start of a busy week of central bank activity and following the continued conflict after the US struck military targets in Iran's Kharg Island oil export hub, but left oil infrastructure intact. ASX 200 was led lower by mining, materials, resources and tech, while the RBA kicked off its two-day policy meeting, where the central bank is widely expected to hike rates for the second consecutive meeting amid inflationary pressures. Nikkei 225 retreated amid losses in utilities and electric names due to the ongoing energy-related uncertainty, despite Japan beginning its emergency oil release, while the Japanese data calendar is quiet to start the week, but begins to pick up on Tuesday, and the BoJ are also set to conduct a policy meeting later in the week. Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp were mixed as participants digested stronger-than-expected activity data for China, and with US-China trade talks in Paris on Sunday said to be constructive and will resume today. However, there were also comments from US President Trump, who called for China to help open the Strait of Hormuz and suggested a potential delay to the Trump-Xi summit scheduled later this month.

Hon Hai (2317 TT): Q4 Net Income (TWD) 45.2bln (exp. 63.9bln)

EUROPEAN CLOSES

CLOSES: Euro Stoxx 50 -0.54% at 5,718, Dax 40 -0.53% at 23,447, FTSE 100 -0.39% at 10,265, CAC 40 -0.91% at 7,912, FTSE MIB -0.29% at 44,327, IBEX 35 -0.43% at 17,066, PSI -0.09% at 9,144, SMI +0.02% at 12,843, AEX +0.10% at 1,002.

SECTORS: Energy 1.58%, Telecoms 1.26%, Utilities 1.18%, Consumer Stpl 0.88%, Healthcare -0.08%, IT -0.20%, Financials -0.59%, Consumer Disc -1.48%, Materials -1.72%, Industrials -1.96%.

FTSE 100

AstraZeneca (AZN LN) - Imfinzi has been approved in the EU as the first and only perioperative immunotherapy for patients with early gastric and gastroesophageal cancers. (Morningstar)

Barclays (BARC LN) - Co. is reportedly in advanced preparations to restart the ECM business in India after shutting it down 10 years ago, according to Economic Times (The Economic Times)

BP (BP/ LN) - Co. has received approval to advance its Gulf of Mexico project, with the USD 5bln investment unlocking 10bln barrels, Reuters reported citing a spokesperson. (Reuters)

British American Tobacco (BATS LN) - Fitch raises its credit rating to A-; outlook stable. (Fitch)

UK Housing- UK Rightmove House Prices MM (Mar) 0.8% (Prev. 0.0%), House Prices YY (Mar) -0.2% (Prev. 0.0%)

OTHER UK COMPANIES

CRH (CRH LN), London Stock Exchange (LSEG LN) - CRH intends to delist its ordinary shares and 7% preference shares from the London Stock Exchange and, subject to shareholder approval, cancel its 5% and 7% preference shares. Its ordinary shares would then be solely listed on the NYSE. The company said the move reflects low LSE trading activity and the cost and administrative burden of maintaining the listings and preference shares. (CRH)

BROKER MOVES

Big Yellow Group (BYG LN) downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley

LondonMetric (LMP LN) downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley

National Grid (NG/ LN) downgraded to Sell from Neutral at UBS

Reckitt Benckiser (RKT LN) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley

Segro (SGRO LN) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley

DAX

OTHER GERMAN COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

Henkel (HEN3 GY) downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley

CAC

BNP Paribas (BNP FP) - Co. is ending its property insurance business in Taiwan. (Taiwan FSA)

TotalEnergies (TTE FP) - Production has been shut down or is in the process of shutting down in Qatar, Iraq and UAE offshore, representing approximately 15% of total output due to the Middle East conflict. (TotalEnergies)

OTHER FRENCH COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

PAN EUROPE

Fertilisers - China will release commercial fertiliser stockpiles early for the spring planting season as the war in the Middle East disrupts global trade flows and raises prices of key crop nutrients. Beijing asked firms storing nitrogen, phosphate and compound fertilisers to sell them to local agricultural producers, Bloomberg reports.

Reserve Releases - The IEA said the coordinated emergency stockpile release totals just under 412mln bbls; Asian member countries will make oil available immediately, while supplies from the Americas and Europe will become available from the end of March (Asia accounts for 26% of the release). The DoE reiterated that the planned 172mln bbl SPR release will be structured as an exchange. It said the 172mln bbl release will be structured as an exchange rather than an outright sale; buyers must return barrels to the SPR later with interest or a premium, adding complexity for recipients.

BROKER MOVES

SMI

Novartis (NOVN SW) - Co. announces a new share buyback for up to 10% of its own registered shares for the next 3 years. (Novartis)

Roche (ROG SW) - Co. receives CE mark for its Apolipoprotein E4 biomarker test in the use for Alzheimer's disease. (Roche)

UBS (UBSG SW) - The Swiss government is set to decide in April how much additional capital UBS should hold as it finalises new regulations after Credit Suisse’s collapse, SonntagsBlick reports. The Federal Council will set new rules for valuing intangible capital, while a parliament document shows it will also decide on capital backing for UBS’s foreign units. In other news, the Board proposes an ordinary dividend of USD 1.10/shr for FY25. (SonntagsBlick/UBS)

OTHER SWISS COMPANIES

Tecan (TECN SW) - FY2025 (CHF): Adj. EBITDA 142.1mln (exp. 140.9mln), Sales 882.5mln (prev. 934.3mln Y/Y), expects 2026 sales to increase in the low single-digit percentage range in local currencies and maintains medium-term outlook. (Tecan)

BROKER MOVES

Zurich Insurance (ZURN SW) resumed with Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley

SCANDINAVIA

Neste (NESTE FH) - Co. has reportedly warned the EU that the sustainable aviation fuel market could move into a price war with China. (FT)

Novo Nordisk (NOVOB DC) - Novo’s key India patent on semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, expires on 20th March, paving the way for cheaper copies, Bloomberg reports. Mankind Pharma, Ajanta Pharma, Sun Pharmaceutical, Dr. Reddy’s and Lupin are preparing launches immediately after expiry, with Indian drug makers expected to sell versions at about half the price. (Bloomberg)

BROKER MOVES

US

CLOSES: SPX -0.60% at 6,633, NDX -0.62% at 24,381, DJI -0.25% at 46,560, RUT -0.36% at 2,480

SECTORS: Utilities +0.94%, Consumer Staples +0.54%, Energy +0.41%, Real Estate +0.20%, Financials +0.05%, Health -0.28%, Industrials -0.39%, Consumer Discretionary -0.65%, Communication Services -0.98%, Materials -1.04%, Technology -1.29%.

Lynas Rare Earths (LYSDY) - Lynas Rare Earths reached a preliminary 4yr supply deal with the Pentagon worth USD 96mln that includes a floor price for some key rare earths used in fighter jets, missile systems and other defence technologies. Lynas said the binding letter of intent with the US DoD sets a framework for a definitive supply agreement after months of negotiations.

Meta Platforms (META) - Meta is planning layoffs that could affect 20% or more of its workforce, according to sources cited by Reuters, as it seeks to offset AI infrastructure spending and prepare for efficiency gains from AI-assisted workers. Techzine reported that Meta had denied reports that it is planning layoffs affecting up to 20% of its workforce to fund AI spending, calling the reports speculative.

Private Credit, Apollo Global (APO) - Apollo Global Management’s co-president of asset-management John Zito criticised “arrogance” in private markets in a previously unreported client discussion arranged by UBS late last month, WSJ reports. He predicted a private credit loan made to a generic small or midsize company might recover USD 0.20-0.40 on the dollar. Apollo is one of private credit’s largest players.

US Energy - The WSJ reports that ExxonMobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX) and ConocoPhillips (COP) warned Trump administration officials in recent days that the Iran war’s energy crisis is likely to worsen; in talks with Energy Secretary Wright and Interior Secretary Burgum, the CEOs said disruption to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz would continue to drive volatility in global energy markets. Meanwhile, Wright on the weekend said relief from high US gasoline prices could take weeks.

16 Mar 2026 - 06:56- Research Sheet- Source: Newsquawk