European indices registered collective gains at the opening of trading today, Wednesday, August 6, ignoring the decline in risk appetite in markets amid rising tariff concerns and negative closings for US indices. Focus was on European companies’ earnings, many of which exceeded market expectations, amid anticipation of the Bank of England’s two central bank meetings tomorrow, Thursday.
In terms of economic data, new manufacturing orders in Germany, the eurozone’s largest economy, fell 1% month-on-month in June, according to data from the German Statistical Office released this morning. This followed a 0.8% decline in the revised May reading, falling short of expectations for growth of around 1.2%.
Companies and institutions in the European region continued to announce their quarterly results for the second quarter of the year, with Danish company Novo Nordisk achieving sales of 76.86 billion kroner, an 18% increase, while the company lowered its sales growth forecast for the current year. In contrast, German bank Commerzbank announced a 14% decline in net profit for the second quarter, reaching €462 million, while raising its full-year forecast and announcing a €1 billion share buyback plan.
Siemens Energy reported net profit of €697 million in the second quarter, following a €102 million loss in the same period last year, while revenues rose 13% to €9.7 billion.
A Deutsche Bank note indicated that European corporate earnings in the second quarter exceeded expectations, with 74% of the companies listed on the STOXX 600 having reported earnings so far, 8% higher than expected.
Markets are awaiting the Bank of England’s meeting tomorrow, Thursday, where expectations indicate a 25 basis point interest rate cut to 4%. The UK FTSE index rose by approximately 0.25% to trade at 9,167 points, while the German DAX index rose by approximately 0.46% to trade at 23,956 points, and the French CAC 40 index rose by approximately 0.61% to trade at 7,667 points.
The European STOXX Europe 600 index rose by approximately 0.30% to trade at 543.00 points.
Deutsche Bank, Airbus, and Siemens led the rise in the DAX index with gains exceeding 1.2%, while Hiscox and Voestalpine AG led the rise in the STOXX Europe 600 index with gains exceeding 6%.