🧐 ProPicks AI October update is out now! See which stocks made the listPick Stocks with AI

Europe midday: Shares flat as investors digest Fed, earnings news

Published 23/02/2023, 12:01
© Reuters.  Europe midday: Shares flat as investors digest Fed, earnings news
FCHI
-
DE40
-
STOXX
-
N1WS34
-

Sharecast - The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was up 0.05% with most major markets higher, bar Britain's FTSE 100, which was down 0.39% as results at Mondi (LON:MNDI) and BAE Systems were poorly received.

Inflation “remained well above” the Fed’s 2% target and the labor market “remained very tight, contributing to continuing upward pressures on wages and prices,” according to the minutes.

OANDA analyst Craig Erlam said that while he took Fed commentary "with a relative pinch of salt", keeping financial conditions tight "may well indicate that at least a few hikes are planned and any hope of cuts this year are, as communicated, slim".

"That could be the difference between a recession and a soft landing, although again, I take these warnings with a large pinch of salt. If January proves to be a blip in the data due in part to warmer weather - and the fact that bumps in the road back to 2% were always highly likely - we could quickly see market pricing shift once more," he said.

"And we'll get another full round of data before the next meeting which will give us a much better idea of whether this is a blip or a trend."

In economic news, the cost of living in the eurozone fell slightly more slowly at the start of 2023 than previously thought.

According to Eurostat, the single currency bloc's consumer price index declined at a month-on-month pace of 0.2%. That brought the annual rate of increase lower from 9.2% in December to 8.6% for January (Preliminary: 8.5%).

It was a similar story at the core level, which excludes food, energy, alcohol and tobacco with year-on-year core CPI printing at 5.3% (Preliminary: 5.2%) , against 5.2% in the month before.

In earnings news, aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce (LON:RR) surged after reporting a rise in operating profits as the rebound in post pandemic international travel boosted flying hours for its engines.

Animal genetics company Genus (LON:GNS) was also higher on increased annual profit.

Paper and packaging firm Mondi fell after warning of softer demand and pricing in the current year, despite posting higher profits in 2022.

BAE Systems (LON:BAES) was also in the red despite hailing a record order intake for 2022 and posting a rise in sales and underlying earnings amid an "elevated threat environment".

French hospitality group Accor (EPA:ACCP) rose slightly higher as full-year operating profit grew from to €543m from €53m, driven by domestic guests, while hotel performance in the second half of the year exceeded 2019 levels in all regions but Asia, where China's zero-Covid restrictions weighed.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com

Read more on Sharecast.com

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.