- February 12, 2025
- By: Admin1_blog
- EU Market, Indices
Karen Gilchrist & Holly Ellyatt
European markets opened higher Wednesday as global markets await the latest inflation reading out of the U.S.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.14% in opening trade, with all major bourses and almost all sectors in the green. Food and beverage stocks led gains, up 1.06%, while oil and gas stocks fell 0.62%.
Heineken shares jumped 12% and trading was briefly halted after the Dutch brewer posted a forecast-beating a rise in operating profits and launched a 1.5 billion euro ($1.55 billion) share buyback program. The stock was last up 11.83% at 8:11 a.m. London time.
The positive results led other drinks makers higher, with Belgium’s AB InBev adding 5% and Denmark’s Carlsberg gaining 2.87%
Global market focus is on the latest U.S. consumer price index report for January that will be published on Wednesday.
Headline inflation is expected to have grown 0.3% from the prior month and 2.9% from 12 months earlier, according to Dow Jones. Some economists on Wall Street have raised concerns that even as certain categories may see disinflation, Trump’s tariffs could offset that. More inflation data is due on Thursday, with the producer price index set to be released.
Traders were on guard Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told the Senate Banking Committee that policymakers were in no hurry to make more interest rate cuts. Powell will appear before the House Committee on Financial Services on Wednesday.
S&P 500 futures were near the flatline Tuesday evening as investors awaited January’s consumer inflation report. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose overnight.
In Europe, earnings come from Randstad, Heineken, EssilorLuxottica, Michelin, Deutsche Boerse and Siemens Energy on Wednesday.
— CNBC’s Brian Evans contributed to this market summary
European stocks open higher
European markets opened higher Wednesday as global markets await the latest inflation reading out of the U.S.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.14% in opening trade, with all major bourses and almost all sectors in the green. Food and beverage stocks led gains, up 1.06%, while oil and gas stocks fell 0.62%.
— Karen Gilchrist
Siemens Energy sees rising energy demand after strong first quarter
Siemens Energy pointed to strong energy demand as a key growth driver in 2025 after posting solid first-quarter results Wednesday.
Revenues rose 18% in the first quarter to 8.9 billion euros ($9.2 billion) while profit before special items doubled to 481 million euros, which the company said “clearly exceeded” the prior year.
“Our strong first quarter reflects the market opportunities arising from the increasing demand for electricity,” president and CEO of Siemens Energy AG, Christian Bruch, said in a statement.
— Karen Gilchrist
Heineken posts forecast-beating full-year profits, launches buyback
Dutch brewer Heineken on Wednesday posted a rise in operating profits that beat a forecast compiled by the company and said it would launch a 1.5 billion euro ($1.55 billion) share buyback program.
The business reported an 8.3% rise in full-year organic operating profit before exceptional items and amortization to 4.51 billion euros, ahead of analysts’ forecast of 5.3%.
The company, whose brands include Amstel, Cruzcampo and Kingfisher, said operating profit would rise between 4% to 8% in 2025.
— Karen Gilchrist
European markets: Here are the opening calls
European markets are expected to open in higher territory Wednesday.
The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 4 points higher at 8,785, Germany’s DAX up 75 points at 22,104, France’s CAC up 12 points at 8,042 and Italy’s FTSE MIB 102 points higher at 37,798, according to data from IG.
Earnings come from Randstad, Heineken, EssilorLuxottica, Michelin, Deutsche Boerse and Siemens Energy on Wednesday.
— Holly Ellyatt
Source : cnbc
