Newsquawk Daily European Equity Opening News - 22nd August 2025

ASIA

APAC stocks traded mixed amid cautiousness heading into Fed Chair Powell's remarks at Jackson Hole and following the subdued handover from Wall St, where participants digested a slew of data and mostly hawkish Fed comments. ASX 200 marginally declined with price action choppy around the 9,000 focal point as participants continue to mull over the latest earnings releases. Nikkei 225 swung between gains and losses with participants indecisive after recent yen weakness and somewhat mixed Japanese inflation data, which mostly matched estimates, aside from the slightly hotter-than-expected Core CPI reading. Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp were kept afloat with strength seen following recent earnings releases and with chipmakers supported after Beijing summoned Chinese tech companies to discuss their use of NVIDIA (NVDA) chips and encourage them to use more homegrown options, while NVIDIA ordered a halt to H20 production following China’s directive against purchases.

India Trade - US Trade Adviser Navarro sees doubling of India tariffs taking place August 27th; India doesn't want to recognize its role in the bloodshed; they're a laundromat for the Kremlin. (Newswires)

EUROPEAN CLOSES

CLOSES: Euro Stoxx 50 +0.19% at 5,342, DAX 40 +0.00% at 24,193, FTSE 100 -0.06% at 9,096, CAC 40 +0.44% at 7,743, FTSE MIB +0.56% at 41,624, IBEX 35 +0.91% at 14,825, PSI +0.23% at 7,780, SMI +0.15% at 11,867, AEX -0.13% at 891.

SECTORS: Energy 0.61%, Healthcare 0.43%, Utilities 0.20%, Financials 0.18%, Industrials 0.12%, Consumer Stpl -0.13%, Telecoms -0.35%, IT -0.61%, Materials -0.76%, Consumer Disc -0.79%

FTSE 100

BAE Systems (BA/ LN) - Co. significantly accelerates chip production for mission-critical defense programmes using CHIPS act funding. (Newswires)

BP (BP/ LN) - Co. deploys additional booms at Whiting refinery amid adverse weather conditions; no impact reported outside facility. Elsewhere, BP's Whiting, Indiana refinery (440k BPD) continues to flare days after severe thunderstorm flooded the facility. (Newswires)

Glencore (GLEN LN) - Glencore Argentina CEO says co. expects to produce 1mln tonnes of copper in Argentina over the next 10-15 years. (Newswires)

UK Consumer - UK GfK Consumer Confidence (Aug) -17.0 vs. Exp. -20.0 (Prev. -19.0); "The UK's consumers are still in wait-and-see mode, and any surprises could result in sudden and sharp changes in sentiment", says consumer insights director at GfK. (Newswires)

OTHER UK COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

DAX

German Banks - Germany’s two banking supervisory agencies have drafted a proposal to ease the reduce the burden on smaller banks. (Politico)

OTHER GERMAN COMPANIES

Suedzucker (SZU GY) - Co. reduces its forecast for financial year. Expects EBITDA 470-570mln (prev. guided 525-675mln). Revenue 8.3-8.7bln (prev. guided 8.7-9.2bln); "In the sugar segment, persistently low global market prices combined with the EU market environment are expected to result in a reduced earnings contribution in the second half of the current 2025/26 fiscal year compared to the previous forecast. Although the EU market environment shows price increases, it remains below expectations". (Newswires) Shares -2.7% in pre-market trade

BROKER MOVES

Hensoldt (HAG GY) upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Citi

Renk (R3NK GY) upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Citi

CAC

Alcohol names - President of France's wine and spirits federation said he expects shipments to the US could fall by 25% once stocks run out in the next few months. (Politico)

Air Liquide (AI FP) - Confirms it is to acquire DIG Airgas for EV of EUR 2.85bln; is exp. to close in the first semester of 2026. (Newswires)

OTHER FRENCH COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

PAN EUROPE

BROKER MOVES

Global Sector - Global Industrial Sector raised to Neutral from Underweight at Citi

SMI

OTHER SWISS COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

SCANDINAVIA

Ambu (AMBUB DC) - Q3 (DKK): Revenue 1.50bln (prev. 1.38bln Y/Y), EBIT 170mln (prev. 178mln Y/Y). 2025: Sees Organic Revenue Growth 12-14% (prev. guided 11-14%). (Newswires)

BROKER MOVES

Metso (METSO FH) upgraded to Reduce from Sell at Alpha Value

US

Alphabet (GOOG), Meta Platforms (META) - Meta Platforms has agreed to a deal worth at least USD 10bln with Google to use Google Cloud’s servers and storage over six years, boosting computing power for AI development, The Information reports. The agreement supports Meta’s AI expansion across Facebook and Instagram as the company competes to rapidly deploy new AI tools.

Meta Platforms (META), Apple (AAPL) - Meta Platforms has hired Apple AI executive Frank Chu, who led teams on cloud infrastructure, training, and search, to join Meta Superintelligence Labs, even as the company plans a broader hiring slowdown.

Comcast (CMCSA), Netflix (NFLX) - Comcast's NBCUniversal is close to a 3yr deal with MLB worth nearly USD 600mln to air games on NBC and Peacock, WSJ reported. Netflix is also nearing a deal to stream the Home Run Derby for over USD 35mln annually through 2028. Talks continue and final terms could push the value higher.

Chip Makers - The Trump administration is considering taking equity stakes in semiconductor firms receiving Chips Act funds, targeting companies like Intel (INTC), but will not seek shares in larger firms increasing US investment, like Micron (MU) and TSMC (TSM), reflecting selective government involvement in the sector, WSJ reports. TSMC executives have discussed potentially returning subsidies if asked to give the US a stockholding, the report added.

Intuit (INTU) - Intuit shares fell over 5% in extended trading after it forecast slower near-term growth, as Mailchimp struggles with retention and expansion, though management expects improvement by year-end. The company emphasised small business challenges, ongoing product transitions, AI-driven initiatives, and announced a new share buyback. Q4 EPS 2.75 (exp. 2.65), Q4 revenue USD 3.80bln (exp. 3.74bln); announces a new USD 3.2bln share repurchase authorisation. Sees Q1 adj. EPS between 3.05-3.12 (exp. 3.07), sees Q1 revenue growth between +14-15% (exp. 16.12%). For the FY, sees adj. EPS between 22.98-23.18 (exp. 23.00), and sees FY revenue between USD 21bln-21.19bln (exp. 21.12bln).

Tesla (TSLA) - Tesla has raised the price of its fastest Cybertruck variant, the Cyberbeast, by USD 15,000 to USD 114,990 in the US, Reuters reports. The new price includes the "Luxe Package," offering supervised Full Self-Driving and free supercharging access. Prices of other Cybertruck variants remain unchanged.

Nvidia (NVDA) - Nvidia has asked suppliers including Amkor (AMKR), Samsung (SSNLF), and Foxconn (HNHPF) to pause production of its H20 chips for China after Beijing restricted purchases over alleged security concerns, The Information reports. The move complicates the return of H20s to China despite US export licenses. CEO Huang confirmed no “backdoors” exist and discussions with Chinese authorities are ongoing.

Workday (WDAY) - Shares fell 4.1% in extended trading after Q2 results, and the announcement that it will acquire Paradox. Q2 adj. EPS 2.21 (exp. 2.12), Q2 revenue USD 2.35bln (exp. 2.34bln). Q2 subscription revenue +14% Y/Y at USD 2.169bln; 12-month subscription revenue backlog +16.4% Y/Y to USD 7.91bln. Workday will acquire AI-driven recruitment platform Paradox; deal expected to close in Q3 FY26. Raises its FY26 subscription revenue view to USD 8.82bln (prev. saw 8bln).

Zoom Communications (ZM) - Shares rose 5.5% in extended trading after it raised its annual outlook as AI-driven tools and hybrid work demand fuel growth, with new features like Virtual Agent 2.0 and expanded AI Companion strengthening its video-conferencing core while opening opportunities in new markets. Q2 adj. EPS 1.53 (exp. 1.38), Q2 revenue USD 1.22bln (exp. 1.20bln). Sees Q3 adj. EPS between 1.42-1.44 (exp. 1.39), Q3 revenue between USD 1.21bln-1.22bln (exp. 1.21bln). For the FY, sees adj. EPS between 5.81-5.84 (exp. 5.61, prev. saw 5.56-5.59), and sees FY revenue between USD 4.83bln-4.84bln (exp. 4.81bln, prev. saw 4.28-4.81bln).

22 Aug 2025 - 06:41- Research Sheet- Source: Newsquawk