LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: Banks are back on the agenda
European markets are reacting to concerns over the banking sector, particularly U.S. regional banks, with Euro STOXX 50 futures down 1% and S&P 500 futures down 0.7%. In corporate news, BBVA's hostile takeover bid for Sabadell has failed, leading to a buyback announcement and a 7% rise in shares. Additionally, Novo Nordisk may see a 2% drop after Trump announced price reductions for weight loss drugs. Overall, the market sentiment is cautious ahead of the opening.
Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at .
EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL BANKS ARE BACK ON THE AGENDA
Worries about the banking sector, or at least U.S. regional banks, that’s what we all want on a Friday morning.
And it’s certainly weighing on stocks with Euro STOXX 50 futures down around 1%, and S&P 500 futures down 0.7% after a 0.6% fall on Thursday. (STXEc1) (ESc1) (.SXP)
It’s hard to know how much we need to worry for now, but U.S. bank stocks fell sharply on Thursday. Click on Morning Bid below for a nice, easy read in.
Then we’ve got the question of what happens to sky-high defence stocks after U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Thursday to another summit on the war in Ukraine. The sector has been getting a touch of altitude sickness this week anyway.
Then in terms of company news, we’ve got our own excitement in Europe, as Spain’s BBVA (BBVA.MC) failed to convince Sabadell (SABE.MC) shareholders to back its 16.32-billion euro ($19.07 billion) hostile takeover bid, ending an almost 18-month takeover battle that became one of the country’s most contentious deals in recent years.
BBVA announced a buyback instead, and the shares are liking it on the Tradegate platform, up around 7%.
“If the deal was generally perceived as a good strategic move for BBVA in the long term, but a drag in the short term, given political opposition and delayed synergies during the 3-year no-merger period, it is fair to assume the opposite applies now,” said Jefferies analysts in a note.
Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) is also worth watching after Trump said the price of weight loss drugs will be lowered. Traders expect falls of around 2% at the open.
(Alun John)
MORNING BID: ADD CREDIT RISK TO A BUBBLE, AND STAND WELL BACK CLICK HERE
