Newsquawk Daily European Equity Opening News - 17th February 2026

ASIA

APAC stocks traded mixed amid the extremely thinned conditions due to the Lunar New Year holiday and in the absence of a lead from the US, where markets were closed for Washington's Birthday/Presidents' Day. ASX 200 was led higher by outperformance in miners as BHP shares surged after the mining giant reported a 28% jump in H1 net, although gains in the broader market were capped by weakness in tech and real estate. Nikkei 225 retreated shortly after the open with SoftBank and heavy industry stocks leading the declines, as the post-election euphoria petered out following the recent underwhelming GDP data.

BHP (BHP AT) - H1 (USD) net rose 28% Y/Y to 5.64bln, underlying profit rose 22% Y/Y to 6.2bln (exp. 6.03bln), rev. rose 11% Y/Y to 27.9bln, Co. will pay interim dividend of USD 0.73/shr, inks silver streaming agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals. Co. inks silver streaming agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals and will receive upfront payment of USD 4.3bln at completion. (BHP)

Memory Chips, Sony (SONY) - A global memory chip shortage is reportedly delaying technology product launches, affecting smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles including Sony PlayStation, and data centre hardware, DigiTimes reports, with the supply crunch in DRAM and NAND reshaping launch timelines across the tech industry.

EUROPEAN CLOSES

CLOSES: Euro Stoxx 50 -0.44% at 5,985, Dax 40 +0.20% at 24,903, FTSE 100 +0.42% at 10,446, CAC 40 -0.35% at 8,312, FTSE MIB -1.71% at 45,431, IBEX 35 -1.25% at 17,672, PSI -0.30% at 8,999, SMI +0.71% at 13,626, AEX +0.59% at 994

SECTORS: Financials 1.10%, Telecoms 0.27%, Utilities 0.21%, Consumer Stpl 0.12%, Energy -0.01%, Healthcare -0.09%, Industrials -0.18%, IT -0.46%, Materials -0.50%, Consumer Disc -0.78%

FTSE 100

Brexit - UK government quietly shelved a programme to build a frictionless post-Brexit trade border, after spending GBP 110mln on a contract with Deloitte and IBM for the project, according to FT. (FT)

UK Economy - Rachel Reeves is set to benefit from lower UK debt-interest costs, with Bloomberg Economics estimating she could gain GBP 1.5bln in reduced borrowing costs at next month’s spring statement compared with her November budget. Yields on 10-year gilts have fallen 25 basis points since then, marking her first such windfall since becoming chancellor in July 2024. (Bloomberg)

OTHER UK COMPANIES

Plus500 (PLUS LN) - CEO, CFO and CMO to sell 1.5mln existing ordinary shares in capital of the company. The shares represent approximately 2.14% of the Company's issued share capital. The transaction is being undertaken by the Selling Shareholders for personal financial and tax planning purposes. They remain highly committed to the Company's long-term strategy, growth trajectory and value creation for shareholders. (Plus500)

RS Group (RS1 LN) – Co. received a positive mention in The Times. The piece suggests that RS Group could be entering a recovery phase, supported by improving UK and German manufacturing data and easing macro headwinds. (The Times)

BROKER MOVES

Schroders (SDR LN) upgraded to Overweight from Underweight at Morgan Stanley

DAX

Germany Social Media Ban - Germany is moving closer to introducing age restrictions on social media, with the co-governing Social Democrats backing Chancellor Merz’ proposal to limit services for those under 16. The measure could heighten tensions with US President Trump, Bloomberg said. (Bloomberg)

OTHER GERMAN COMPANIES

Deutsche Lufthansa (LHA GY), Boeing (BA) - Lufthansa said most Allegris business-class seats on its new Boeing 787 aircraft will be available for booking from 15th April, after delayed certification had restricted access. All but three seats will be bookable, compared with four of 28 currently available in the premium section of the Dreamliner. (Lufthansa)

Hapag-Lloyd (HLAG GY) - CEO expects deal with Zim (ZIM) to result in synergies of between USD 300-500mln a year. (Newswires) Context: Hapag-Lloyd signed an agreement to acquire Zim Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) for USD 4.2bln or USD 35/shr

BROKER MOVES

Allianz (ALV GY) initiates with Sector Perform at RBC

CAC

Eiffage (FGR FP) - Co. strengthens its presence in Germany with the acquisition of the assets of Claus Heinemann Elektroanlagen. (Eiffage)

OTHER FRENCH COMPANIES

Vallourec (VK FP)/Baker Hughes (BKR) - Co. signs hydrogen storage partnership with Baker Hughes. (Vallourec)

BROKER MOVES

AXA (CS FP) initiated with Outperform at RBC

PAN EUROPE

Enagas (ENG SM) - FY 2025 (EUR): Revenue 976.8mln (exp. 907.7mln, prev. 913mln Y/Y), EBITDA 675.7mln (prev. 761.1mln Y/Y). (Enagas)

Nestle (NESN SW), Danone (BN FP) - HHS Secretary RFK Jr. is preparing to launch “Operation Stork Speed,” a Trump administration review of US infant-formula ingredients, focusing on issues including seed oils and heavy metals, WSJ reports. While federal nutrient requirements are widely seen as overdue for re-examination, the administration is unlikely to remove seed oils from formula guidelines, the report states. (WSJ)

BROKER MOVES

SMI

Givaudan (GIVN SW) - Co. to invest CHF 55 million in Grasse, France to build ‘Campus 52’, its new centre of excellence dedicated to House of Naturals organisation. (Givaudan)

OTHER SWISS COMPANIES

Also Holdings (ALSN SW) - FY 2025 (EUR): Revenue 15.2bln (exp. 13.3bln), EBITDA 286mln (exp. 280mln); Guides initial FY26 EBITDA EUR 300-400mln, ROCE > 20%. (Also Holdings)

DKSH Holding (DKSH SW) - FY 2025 (CHF): Revenue 11.1bln (prev. 11.1bln Y/Y), Operating income 349.0mln (prev. 343,1mln Y/Y), Net income 210.9mln (prev. 220.9mln Y/Y). (DKSH Holding)

BROKER MOVES

Koninklijke Philips (PHIA NA) upgraded to Buy from Add at AlphaValue

SCANDINAVIA

Kemira (KEMIRA FH) - Co. plans to build an activated carbon reactivation plant in Tarragona Spain. (Kemira)

BROKER MOVES

Norsk Hydro (NHY NO) downgraded to Sell from Hold by SEB

US

Note: US cash equity trade was shut on Monday, on account of President's Day.

Apple (AAPL) - Apple will hold a product launch on 4th March, and is preparing to announce several new devices in the coming weeks. The company invited media to in-person events in New York, Shanghai and London, describing them as an 'experience', signalling a lower-key format than its typical campus launches in California, Bloomberg said. Separately, Apple is revamping video features in Apple Podcasts, making it easier for users to switch between video and audio in its iOS 26.4 developer beta, Bloomberg reports. The move reflects a broader industry shift toward visual content.

ByteDance, Disney (DIS), Paramount Skydance (PSKY) - ByteDance said it will strengthen safeguards to prevent unauthorised IP use on its AI video generator Seedance 2.0, after cease-and-desist letters from Disney and Paramount Skydance. ByteDance did not detail the measures it plans to implement. Disney alleged the tool used copyrighted characters without permission.

Canada-US - Canadian PM Mark Carney appointed veteran public servant Janice Charette as chief trade negotiator with the US, placing her at the centre of a review of the North American trade pact amid strained bilateral relations.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) - Activist investor Elliott Management builds stake of over 10% in Norwegian Cruise Line, plans to push for changes to turn around struggling operator, according to WSJ. (WSJ)

17 Feb 2026 - 06:58- MetalsResearch Sheet- Source: Newsquawk