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☆ European stocks follow global markets lower as interest rate outlook weighs on sentiment
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday, July 6, 2023. OPEC countries will hold a separate videoconference meeting that same day. OPEC+ was previously set to meet on June 1 in Vienna. The influential oil producers' alliance is currently slated to continue cutting 2 million barrels per day of crude output until the end of this year, under its formal policy. Market participants are closely watching whether these second-quarter voluntary cuts will be extended, while supply security concerns linger amid ongoing conflict in the oil-rich Middle East.

Persons: Nymex Organizations: Organization of, Petroleum, of, Coalition, CNBC, Saudi, Brent Locations: Vienna, Austria, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Russia, London

☆ Shock summer election in Britain predicted to deliver 'historic' result
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a statement in the rain outside 10 Downing Street, announcing the UK general election will take place on 4 July in London, United Kingdom on May 22, 2024. News of the vote came as a surprise to the public, the media and much of Sunak's own party. 'As good as it gets'Bronwen Maddox, director of Chatham House think tank, said the election date had shocked many Conservatives who thought it would be held nearer to the U.S. election in November. Market bets on an interest rate cut in the summer fell as a result, and it now looks unlikely the central bank will cut on June 20, its last meeting before the election. So if that translates to a general election as well, then that Labour landslide is looking much less certain."

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Price, Bronwen Maddox, I'm, Maddox, Rachel Reeves, Sir Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner, Leon Neal, James, Hannah Bunting, CNBC's, Tony Blair, John Major, Bunting, we've Organizations: British, Anadolu, Getty, Conservative Party, Conservatives, Labour Party, Downing, Bank of England, Chatham House, CNBC, Bank of England's, Labour, Centre, University of Exeter Locations: London, United Kingdom, U.K, Europe, Gaza, Rwanda, Purfleet

☆ 'I was too trusting': Ex-Post Office boss apologizes after widespread miscarriage of justice in Britain
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Post Office Limited Paula Vennells (C) arrives to give evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, in central London, on May 22, 2024. The scandal has been described at an ongoing public inquiry as "the worst miscarriage of justice in recent British legal history". The Post Office took 700 people to court between 1999 and 2015 based on faulty evidence resulting from central I.T. Questions remain over what Vennells and other executives knew, all while the Post Office continued to push for sub-postmaster prosecutions. Vennells joined at a time when the Post Office was losing significant amounts of money and was under pressure to improve its financial performance.

Persons: Paula Vennells, Vennells, Martin Griffiths Organizations: Post, Britain's, Fujitsu, Post Office Locations: London, I.T

☆ UK inflation comes in hotter than expected, slashing June rate cut bets
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.K. inflation came in hotter than expected with a drop to 2.3% in April, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday, prompting traders to pull back from bets on a June interest rate cut from the British central bank. Core inflation, excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, dipped to 3.9% in April from 4.2% in March. A dramatic drop in the headline rate was widely expected because of the year-on-year decline in energy prices. Investors were instead set to focus on core and services inflation, after BOE policymakers indicated they would be willing to cut interest rates some time in the summer, but stressed that the timing would depend on fresh data. Following the print, money markets slashed the probability of a June rate cut to just 15%, down from 50% earlier in the day.

Persons: BOE Organizations: National Statistics, Bank of England's, Reuters Locations: Russia, Ukraine, British, U.K

☆ Britain's inflation rate could be about to drop below the Bank of England's 2% target
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesLONDON — U.K. inflation could be about to hit a major milestone, with some forecasting that a sharp fall in the April print will take the headline rate below the Bank of England's 2% target. That would represent a plunge from the current level of 3.2% and could "make or break" a June interest rate cut, economists say. Ashley Webb, U.K. economist at Capital Economics, said that if the headline rate does fall below 2% in April, as he expects, it would be "momentous." "This will be crucial in determining whether the first interest rate cut from 5.25% will happen in June (as we expect) or in August. We think inflation will fall further, perhaps even to 1.0% later this year," Webb said in a Friday note.

Persons: Ashley Webb, What's, Webb, —, BOE Governor Andrew Bailey, BOE, Ben Broadbent, James Smith, ING's Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Bank of England's, Capital Economics, Bank of England, European Central Bank, ING Locations: Kingston, London, U.K

☆ Budget airline Ryanair posts record annual profit as passenger numbers soar above pre-Covid level
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Low-cost carrier Ryanair on Monday reported its best-ever annual profit, as passenger and revenue growth offset sharply higher operating costs. The Dublin-based firm said full-year profit after tax jumped 34% to 1.92 billion euros ($2.09 billion), and announced a 700-million-euro share buyback program. Revenue rose 25% year-on-year to 13.44 billion euros as the airline served 184 million passengers, 23% more than before the Covid pandemic. Ryanair Chief Financial Officer Neil Sorahan told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" Monday that its share buyback reflected a "very strong" balance sheet. "Our priorities have been very much: restore the pay for our people after Covid, bring in pay increases, pay down the debt," he said.

Persons: Neil Sorahan, CNBC's, we've, actualy Organizations: Ryanair, Revenue Locations: Dublin

The Chinese-founded fast-fashion giant is reported to have turned its attention to the LSE after facing regulatory and political challenges over a potential initial public offering in New York. U.S. lawmakers have raised several concerns about Shein, including over the transparency of its supply chain. The LSE has struggled to court high-growth companies in recent years compared with markets in Asia and the U.S., and has recently lost significant players including travel group TUI and cybersecurity firm Darktrace. However, British computing startup Raspberry Pi last week said it plans to list in London. CNBC has contacted Shein for comment.

Persons: Lord Dominic Johnson, Johnson, Shein, — Jenni Reid Organizations: London Stock Exchange, Department for Business Trade, CNBC, LSE, New York . Locations: New York, New York . U.S, Asia, U.S, London

☆ Markets underestimate geopolitical risk as raft of elections looms, ECB's De Guindos says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

And simultaneously, we are referring to geopolitical risks. I think that, you know, markets sometimes are underestimating the potential impact of geopolitical risks that are there," Luis de Guindos told CNBC's Annette Weisbach. Rising geopolitical risks present "considerable downside risks," the ECB warned in the report. The report attributes the rally in financial markets to analyst expectations of interest rate cuts from major central banks this year. "And that's the element that you cannot ignore, you cannot overlook this potential impact that could affect risk aversion, risk attraction, commodity prices, growth, overall growth in the global economy."

Persons: Luis de Guindos, CNBC's Annette Weisbach, De Guindos Organizations: European Central Bank, Stock, U.S, ECB Locations: U.S, Europe, East, Ukraine

☆ Europe must avoid ‘disaster’ of trade decoupling as it eyes China tariffs, EU's economics chief says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The European Union must avoid a harmful decoupling of global trade as it mulls tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other goods, the bloc's economic chief said Wednesday. "But this is not bringing us to a theory of decoupling of global trade, which would be a disaster for both parts of the decoupling," he said. "The characteristic of the EU economy is to be more open, more influenced by trade, and less by only internal consumption. This is the reason, the economic reason, why it is in the interest of the European Union to keep the doors of trade open." Meanwhile, several EU nations are nervous about potential Chinese retaliatory trade measures hitting important domestic industries, from German automotives to French cognac.

Persons: Paolo Gentiloni, CNBC's Silvia Amaro, Gentiloni Organizations: European, European Union, CNBC Locations: European Union, Europe, China, EVs, U.S, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Bank of England holds interest rates steady, but signals a cut is coming
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — The Bank of England on Thursday announced a widely-expected hold on interest rates following its May meeting, as it said restrictive monetary policy was working to bring down inflation. Members of the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 to hold, with the latter favoring a cut. In the prior meeting only one member voted for a cut. It keeps the BOE's key Bank Rate at 5.25%. Some economists see a cut as soon as the next meeting in June, and three or more cuts in 2024.

Persons: Matthew Swannell, CNBC's Organizations: Bank of England, Monetary, MPC, BNP

☆ Bank of England set to hold rates as Europe's central banks diverge from Fed
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Variegated tulips planted in flower beds opposite the Bank of England in the City of London on 7th May 2024 in London, United Kingdom. =LONDON — The Bank of England is set to hold interest rates steady at its Thursday meeting, with traders expected to pore over the details of Governor Andrew Bailey's statement as anticipation builds for a potential summer rate cut. The BOE's Monetary Policy Committee is widely expected to keep the Bank Rate at 5.25%, with an announcement due at midday. The latest March meeting saw eight votes to keep rates steady and one to cut. It's going to reach target pretty soon, and that will put the Bank under a lot of pressure to start normalizing policy."

Persons: Andrew Bailey's, Bailey, Francesco Garzarelli, Garzarelli, CNBC's, There's Organizations: Bank of England, Eisler Capital, Bank Locations: City of London, London, United Kingdom

☆ Beer giant AB InBev beats profit estimates, with Bud Light boycott set to ease one year on
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

AB InBev Budweiser and Bud Light brand beer cans at a store in the Queens borough of New York on Feb. 28, 2024. Shares of Belgium's AB InBev rose 5% Wednesday morning after the company posted higher revenue and profit in the first quarter, as analysts said it had escaped the drag from a year-long boycott of its Bud Light brand relatively unscathed. The company nonetheless managed to increase revenue by 7.8% last year, driven by higher sales in the Asia-Pacific and Central America regions. The first-quarter results showed a 11.1% drop in sales of AB InBev's own beer brands in North America, which it said was primarily due to Bud Light. The results also flagged growth in its Corona brand, particularly for its non-alcoholic beer brand Corona Cero.

Persons: Stella Artois, Bud Light, influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Donald Trump, Jason Warner Organizations: InBev Budweiser, Bud Light, Belgium's, InBev, Light, Corona, Former U.S, InBev's, U.K, Revenue Locations: Queens, New York, Asia, Pacific, Central America, North America, China, Brazil, Colombia, Europe, Mexico, South Africa, Corona

☆ UBS swings back to profit and smashes earnings expectations for the first quarter
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

UBS logo is seen at the office building in Krakow, Poland on February 22, 2024. UBS on Tuesday reported a swing back to profit after two quarterly losses as it smashed first-quarter expectations, with results bolstered by higher wealth management revenues. Lower expenses and consolidation benefits following the takeover of Credit Suisse in June 2023 also helped the bank post a net profit of $1.8 billion in the first quarter, ahead of a consensus forecast in an LSEG poll of $721.4 million. The Swiss banking giant is continuing to process the mammoth integration of its former rival. The firm said Tuesday that it expects to complete the merger of UBS AG and Credit Suisse AG into a single U.S. intermediate holding company in the second quarter, and the merger of its Swiss entities in the third quarter.

Organizations: UBS, Credit Suisse, UBS AG, Credit Suisse AG Locations: Krakow, Poland, Swiss, U.S

☆ BP misses expectations as profits slip on weaker oil and gas prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

BP on Tuesday reported a fall in first-quarter profit, with results coming in below analyst expectations amid a "significantly weaker" margin in fuels and lower gas and oil prices. The British energy giant logged underlying replacement cost profit, used as a proxy for net profit, of $2.7 billion. That was down from $3 billion the previous quarter and compared with an estimate in an LSEG-compiled consensus of $2.9 billion. The results reflect lower oil and gas realizations and a "significantly weaker" fuels margin, the company said in its Tuesday statement. This is a breaking news story and will be updated shortly.

☆ Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk down 4%, heads for worst day since October
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Shares of Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk slid 4% on Friday, extending a 2.7% loss on Thursday as analysts pored over the details of the firm's first-quarter results and monitored a potential rival weight loss treatment. The company reported that sales for its blockbuster injectable weight loss treatment Wegovy, more than doubled to 9.38 billion Danish kroner ($1.4 billion). Novo Nordisk, which also makes diabetes treatment Ozempic, said the rise in sales had offset a slight reduction in prices. Analysts expected even higher weight loss drug sales in the quarter, and some noted that Novo Nordisk's 2024 outlook raise for both sales growth and operating profit was due to one-off accounting adjustments. The boom in demand for weight loss treatments saw Novo Nordisk overtake French luxury group LVMH to become Europe's most valuable company last year.

Persons: Karsten Knudsen, Karen Andersen Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Novo, Morningstar Locations: Novo

☆ European markets head for higher open as earnings remain in focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European stock markets are set to open in the green on Friday, rounding off a broadly negative week dominated by corporate earnings. The Stoxx 600 index has finished lower for the past three sessions as investors digested a slew of results from the biggest companies in Europe and the U.S.On Friday, those included French banks Société Générale , which reported a smaller-than-forecast decline in first-quarter profit, and Crédit Agricole , which saw a leap in net profit. Data is due on U.K. retail sales, Turkey's inflation rate, French industrial production and Spanish employment.

Organizations: U.S, Crédit Agricole Locations: Europe

Banks jumped 0.8%, while oil and gas stocks retreated 1%. European stocks opened mixed on Thursday as global markets react to the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy decision and a slew of corporate earnings. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said it was unlikely that the central bank's next move will be a rate hike. Asia-Pacific markets were mostly higher overnight as traders reacted to the Fed's stance, while U.S. stock futures advanced as investors looked ahead to more corporate earnings due Thursday. Dutch bank ING was 5% higher in early deals after announcing a 2.5 billion euro ($2.7 billion) share buyback.

Persons: Banks, Jerome Powell, It's, Vestas, Hugo Boss Organizations: U.S, U.S . Federal, Dow, region's, Novo Nordisk, Shell, ING, AXA, ArcelorMittal Locations: London, U.S ., Asia, Pacific, Europe

☆ Aston Martin's losses nearly doubled on lower sales, but carmaker projects growth from new models
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Exhibition of Aston Martin DB11 during the Turin Motor Show 2018. LONDON — Luxury carmaker Aston Martin on Wednesday reported widening losses in the first quarter, as the company stopped production of its core models ahead of a launch a new range of vehicles later this year. Adjusted loss before tax nearly doubled to £110.5 million ($137.8 million) compared to a loss of £57.3 million in the previous year. Analysts had expected a £93 million first-quarter loss, according to Reuters. This is a breaking news story and will be updated shortly.

Persons: Aston Martin DB11, Aston Martin Organizations: Aston, Analysts, Reuters

☆ Privacy breach at Australian airline Qantas gives access to other customers' details
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Qantas on Wednesday apologized after some customers using the Australian airline's app were shown the name, flight details and loyalty status of other passengers. Customers were not able to transfer or use other people's airline points, and there were no reports of customers boarding flights using incorrect details, Qantas said. During the incident, Qantas advised customers to log out and then back in to their frequent flyer app account. "We sincerely apologise to all customers impacted and continue to monitor the Qantas app closely," the airline said in a statement. The Qantas incident comes after other airlines experienced data breaches involving malicious actors in recent years.

Organizations: Qantas, Sydney International Airport, Spain's, Europa, Reuters, British Airways Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Jeep-maker Stellantis reports sharp fall in revenue as it shifts car portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Maserati's first GranCabrio convertible since 2019 is scheduled to go on sale this summer in the U.S. Global automaker Stellantis on Tuesday reported a 12% decline in revenue in the first quarter, citing lower sales and foreign exchange effects, even as net pricing held firm. Chief Financial Officer Natalie Knight said year-over-year shipment and net revenue comparisons were difficult due to the company's transition to a "next generation product portfolio manufactured on new platforms." This is a breaking news story and will be updated shortly.

Persons: Maserati's, Natalie Knight Organizations: U.S . Global, Stellantis Locations: U.S

☆ Euro zone inflation steady at 2.4%, keeping June rate cut in play as economy returns to growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Price rises in the euro area held steady at 2.4% in April, while the economy returned to growth in the first quarter, according to flash figures published Tuesday. Headline inflation of 2.4% was in line with the forecast of economists polled by Reuters. It is the seventh straight month the headline rate has been below 3%, despite a slight rebound in the rate in December due to energy prices. Core inflation, excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, dipped to 2.7% from 2.9% in March. However, Martinez noted the slightly lower-than-expected fall in core inflation and volatility in some areas of services that had increased the inflation rates in France and Italy.

Persons: Price, Gerardo Martinez, Martinez, Jane Foley, Foley Organizations: Reuters, European Central Bank, Gross, ECB, CNBC, BNP, Rabobank Locations: Europe, France, Italy

☆ Philips shares rocket 33% as firm settles U.S. respiratory device case
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Philips shares were 33% higher at 9:00 a.m. London time. It said it did not admit any fault or liability, or that any injuries were caused by its Respironics devices. Monday's rebound took Philips shares back to their highest level since April 2022. Adjusted earnings, meanwhile, beat consensus analyst expectations, according to Reuters, coming in at 388 million euros for the quarter. Sales were slightly lower year-on-year, at 4.14 billion euros in the first quarter from 4.17 billion euros in 2023.

Persons: Roy Jakobs, Philips Organizations: Philips, Reuters Locations: U.S, London

☆ Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf resigns after ending power-sharing agreement
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf announces his resignation during a statement, at Bute House, in Edinburgh, on April 29, 2024. Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf resigned on Monday after the collapse of his power-sharing agreement with the country's Green Party. Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Yousaf was facing a vote of no confidence that he was not expected to survive, after he broke off the agreement with the Green Party last week. "In ending the Bute House agreement in the manner I did, I clearly underestimated the level of hurt and upset I caused Green colleagues. The first person of color to lead Scotland, Yousaf said it was an "honour" and "privilege" to serve as first minister.

Persons: Humza Yousaf, Yousaf, Green, — Organizations: Scotland's, Bute House, Scottish, country's Green Party, Scottish National Party, Green Party Locations: Bute, Edinburgh, Scotland

☆ Anglo American rejects BHP's $39 billion takeover bid to form mining juggernaut
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Australia-based BHP on Thursday said it had made an all-share takeover offer which valued the smaller company at £31.1 billion ($38.9 billion). "The BHP proposal is opportunistic and fails to value Anglo American's prospects, while significantly diluting the relative value upside participation of Anglo American's shareholders relative to BHP's shareholders," he said. Anglo American Chairman Stuart Chambers said the proposed restructure was "highly unattractive, creating substantial uncertainty and execution risk borne almost entirely by Anglo American, its shareholders and its other stakeholders." Shares of Anglo American Platinum rose more than 2% on the announcement, while Kumba Iron Ore moved 0.9% lower. Chambers said that, in its current state, Anglo American was "well positioned" to benefit from that energy transition.

Persons: BHP's, Stuart Chambers, Chambers, — CNBC's Jenni Reid Organizations: BHP Group, BHP, CNBC, Limited, Iron Ore Limited Locations: Australia, London, American, South Africa

☆ UK tech darling Darktrace rallies 17% after agreeing $5.32 billion private equity sale to Thoma Bravo
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this photo illustration a DarkTrace logo is displayed on a smartphone with stock market percentages in the background. LONDON — British cybersecurity firm Darktrace on Friday announced it had agreed a sale to U.S. private equity giant Thoma Bravo, for an all-cash offer of $5.315 million. Darktrace shares were 17% higher at 10:26 a.m. London time. Darktrace was founded in 2013 and is based in the U.K. city of Cambridge, which has attracted a cluster of tech firms over the last decade. Darktrace on Friday said it had rejected previous unsolicited proposed offers from Thoma Bravo because the tech company assessed they did not fairly value the business.

Persons: Darktrace, Thoma, Thoma Bravo, Mike Lynch Organizations: Thoma Bravo, London Stock Exchange Locations: London, U.S, Asia, U.K, Cambridge, Darktrace, Thoma

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