Newsquawk Daily European Equity Opening News - 18th August 2025

ASIA

APAC stocks began the week mostly higher following the recent Trump-Putin summit, which was said to have made great progress, although some of the gains were capped as the attention turned to President Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky and various European leaders later today. Focus this week will also be on Fed Chair Powell's speech on Friday at the Jackson Hole Symposium. ASX 200 was ultimately little changed following a choppy performance and after having pulled back from an early fresh record high, with earnings releases remaining in the spotlight including the latest results from big four bank NAB. Nikkei 225 resumed its rally to fresh record highs with little fresh drivers to derail the current momentum for Tokyo stocks. Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp conformed to the mostly constructive mood in the region with sentiment also helped after President Trump said he will hold off on raising tariffs on Chinese goods over the country's purchases of Russian oil, while the PBoC Q2 Monetary Policy Implementation Report on Friday noted that China’s economic operation still faces many risks and challenges, but made numerous pledges including to further improve the monetary policy framework, implement and refine moderately loose monetary policy.

Indian Autos - India's federal government proposes reducing GST rate on small cars to 18% from 28% and proposes lowering GST rate on health and life insurance premiums to a maximum of 5% from the current 18%, according to a source cited by Reuters. (Reuters)

EUROPEAN CLOSES

CLOSES: Euro Stoxx 50 +0.24% at 5,448, Dax 40 -0.01% at 24,375, FTSE 100 -0.42% at 9,139, CAC 40 +0.67% at 7,923, IBEX 35 +0.50% at 15,282, PSI +0.75% at 7,780, SMI +0.58% at 12,066, AEX -0.29% at 896

SECTORS: Energy 0.76%, Healthcare 0.69%, Materials 0.52%, Telecoms 0.18%, Utilities 0.00%, Consumer Disc -0.06%, Consumer Stpl -0.11%, Industrials -0.28%, Financials -0.28%, IT -0.73%

FTSE 100

AstraZeneca (AZN LN) - Co. launches at-home FluMist nasal spray delivery, ABC reports. (ABC)

UK EVs - UK says government discounts for electric vans and trucks have been extended with plug in van and truck grant extended to at least 2027. (Newswires)

UK Housing - UK Rightmove House Prices MM (Aug) -1.3% (Prev. -1.2%); House Prices YY (Aug) 0.3% (Prev. 0.1%); Rightmove property expert Babcock said the latest BoE cut was unlikely to push down mortgage costs much further but could encourage buyers. (Newswires)

OTHER UK COMPANIES

Great Portland Estates (GPE LN) - Co. has reportedly hired lawyers to investigate claims regarding its company culture, front-running such claims made by a whistleblower. (The Telegraph)

BROKER MOVES

Babcock (BAB LN) initiated with Outperform at RBC

Crest Nicholson (CRST LN) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Stifel Nicolaus

Segro (SGRO LN) downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at RBC

DAX

OTHER GERMAN COMPANIES

TAG Immobilien (TEG GY) - Co. plans increased payout ratio for 2026 dividend; is to increase dividend payout ratio to 50% of FFO. Previous payout ratio of 40% of FFO I remains unchanged for dividend for current FY25. (Newswires)

BROKER MOVES

CAC

OTHER FRENCH COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

PAN EUROPE

Mediobanca (MB IM) / Banca Generali (BGN IM) - Norway's Sovereign fund Norges Bank (holds a 1.45% stake in Mediobanca), and other institutional investors will vote in favour for the bank's bid for Banca Generali on Aug 21. (Newswires)

BROKER MOVES

SMI

OTHER SWISS COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

SCANDINAVIA

Novo Nordisk (NOVOB DC) - Novo Nordisk's Wegovy gets accelerated US FDA approval for liver disease MASH. (Newswires)

Pandora (PNDORA DC) - CEO says have not seen any hit on demand from US tariffs so far. Is not planning any major layoffs as part of a cost cutting plan. (Newswires)

BROKER MOVES

Equinor (EQNR NO) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at SpareBank 1 Markets

US

CLOSES: SPX -0.26% at 6,451, NDX -0.51% at 23,712, DJI +0.08% at 44,946, RUT -0.56% at 2,286.

SECTORS: Financials -1.12%, Technology -0.75%, Industrials -0.55%, Utilities -0.37%, Consumer Discretionary -0.27%, Energy -0.25%, Materials -0.02%, Consumer Staples +0.07%, Communication Services +0.49%, Real Estate +0.68%, Health +1.65%.

Tesla (TSLA) - Co. nearly halves monthly payments in the UK amid a sales slump, according to The Times. Tesla has been forced to offer discounts of up to 40% to car leasing firms to sell more units. (The Times)

18 Aug 2025 - 06:41- ForexResearch Sheet- Source: Newsquawk