European shares bounce on results, basic resource stocks
LONDON: European shares gained on Wednesday, with results driving specific stock moves, while basic resources were the top sector performers after US President Donald Trump pledged $1 trillion of infrastructure spending in his first speech to Congress.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.7 per cent, with Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 outperforming peers, gaining 1 per cent. Europe's basic resources index rose 1.4 per cent.
In his speech, Trump said he wanted to boost the US economy with tax relief, an overhaul of the Affordable Care Act and an infrastructure push.
Meanwhile, comments from a handful of Federal Reserve policymakers that suggested rate-setters are worried about waiting too long in the face of pending economic stimulus from Washington jolted markets into higher expectations for a March US interest rate increase.
Regional dealmaking continued apace with Spain's Banco Sabadell, Spain's fifth-biggest bank, a top gainer, up 3.4 per cent, after it said it had sold its Florida retail unit to Iberiabank Corp for $1 billion.
Italian luxury outerwear company Moncler was a top European gainer, up 4.4 per cent after it posted an 18 per cent increase in sales for 2016, boosted by Korea, China and the United States.
Dutch supermarket chain Ahold Delhaize was among top gainers, up 3.8 per cent after its results beat consensus estimates.
German plastics maker Covestro was the top faller, down 7.8 per cent and headed for its worst ever day, after pharmaceuticals giant Bayer said it reduced its holding in the company from 64.2 per cent to 53.3 per cent, placing Covestro shares in the market at 66.50 euros a share.
British hedge fund firm Man Group was among the worst-performing stocks, down 6.8 per cent, after its results. The firm said total assets rose 3 per cent in 2016, though weak performance in some funds saw fee income slide.
Europe's biggest pure online fashion retailer Zalando was down 4.1 per cent after its results. It said it would invest heavily in 2017 and create more than 2,000 jobs, announcing its first move into physical stores.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.7 per cent, with Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 outperforming peers, gaining 1 per cent. Europe's basic resources index rose 1.4 per cent.
In his speech, Trump said he wanted to boost the US economy with tax relief, an overhaul of the Affordable Care Act and an infrastructure push.
Meanwhile, comments from a handful of Federal Reserve policymakers that suggested rate-setters are worried about waiting too long in the face of pending economic stimulus from Washington jolted markets into higher expectations for a March US interest rate increase.
Regional dealmaking continued apace with Spain's Banco Sabadell, Spain's fifth-biggest bank, a top gainer, up 3.4 per cent, after it said it had sold its Florida retail unit to Iberiabank Corp for $1 billion.
Italian luxury outerwear company Moncler was a top European gainer, up 4.4 per cent after it posted an 18 per cent increase in sales for 2016, boosted by Korea, China and the United States.
Dutch supermarket chain Ahold Delhaize was among top gainers, up 3.8 per cent after its results beat consensus estimates.
German plastics maker Covestro was the top faller, down 7.8 per cent and headed for its worst ever day, after pharmaceuticals giant Bayer said it reduced its holding in the company from 64.2 per cent to 53.3 per cent, placing Covestro shares in the market at 66.50 euros a share.
British hedge fund firm Man Group was among the worst-performing stocks, down 6.8 per cent, after its results. The firm said total assets rose 3 per cent in 2016, though weak performance in some funds saw fee income slide.
Europe's biggest pure online fashion retailer Zalando was down 4.1 per cent after its results. It said it would invest heavily in 2017 and create more than 2,000 jobs, announcing its first move into physical stores.