*
STOXX 600 up 0.2%
*
OPEC+ announced output cut
*
Energy stocks rally
*
Nasdaq futures dip
Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to
you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at
.
ENERGY KEEPS STOXX AFLOAT (0804 GMT) The OPEC+ output cut announcement is doing its thing. Crude prices were up more than $4 a barrel and energy stocks were stealing the show in Europe with gains of more than 3% for the big majors and even more for the smaller energy contractors. Their gains more than offset weakness elsewhere including in airline and tech stocks, helping the STOXX 600 regional benchmark nudge up 0.2% in early trading on Monday. The commodity heavy FTSE 100 outperformed, up 0.7%. Here's your opening snapshot:
(Danilo Masoni)
*****
FTSE SEEN BUCKING WEAK EUROPEAN START (0643 GMT) European shares were set to open on the back foot on Monday as inflation jitters resurfaced following a surprise OPEC+ oil production cut, although futures on the commodity-heavy FTSE 100 index edged up 0.2%.
Oil stocks were set to rally across the region following a rally of peers in Asia with premarket indications from traders calling for gains of more than 2% for oil majors BP , Shell , TotalEnergies and Eni .
Elsewhere, eyes are on Hyve after the Financial Times reported that M&G Investments and two others will vote against a private equity takeover of the British events group.
Still in M&A, LNG firm Exmar was also in focus after top shareholder Saverex announced a minority buyout. Finally, logistics firm DSV was set to open lower after a share placement.
(Danilo Masoni)
*****
OIL SPIKE A BLACK MARK FOR INFLATION, CONSUMER DEMAND (0559 GMT) Oil prices have stolen the show in Asia on Monday, and not in a good way if you care about global inflation and consumer spending power.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies including Russia (OPEC+), stunned markets by announcing production cuts of about 1.16 million barrels per day, preempting a meeting of ministers due later on Monday. Brent and U.S. crude futures both jumped more than 5%, though they were off the early peaks. Analysts assumed OPEC+ was trying to put a floor under prices, around $80 a barrel for Brent and $75 for the U.S. flavour of oil, and Goldman Sachs quickly raised its forecast to $95 a barrel for year end. Then again, some thought it might also suggest producers were worried that demand was missing bullish forecasts given physical cargoes are arranged months in advance of delivery. If the price increase sticks, it will be bad news for headline inflation and will leave a sour taste after Friday's core U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditures data seemed to bode well for a cooling of cost pressures. The market responded by pushing bond yields and the dollar higher, while paring expectations for how much the Federal Reserve may cut rates later in the year. Futures have around 38 basis points of easing priced in by December, compared to more than 100 basis points during the banking crisis of mid-March. Yet, higher petrol prices are also a tax on consumers and have a close correlation to consumer sentiment, especially in the United States. It's also unlikely to be taken well by the White House given the political pain of higher gas prices. Concerns about consumer demand were not helped by the Caixin/S&P survey of Chinese manufacturing in March that badly missed forecasts at 50.0, largely due to a weakness in export orders. This survey concentrates on smaller firms and exporters and suggests foreign demand is a headwind for China even as the domestic service sector roars back. Export-reliant Japan and South Korea also saw manufacturing activity contract in March. Both are major importers of energy, so they will not welcome the spike in oil.
Key developments that could influence markets on Monday:
- The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) of the OPEC and non-OPEC countries meets via videoconference
- March PMIs for Europe, while the U.S. ISM survey of manufacturing is seen easing a touch to 47.5. Auto sales for March will offer an early read on consumer demand
- Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook speaks on the U.S. economic outlook and monetary policy
(Wayne Cole)
*****
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
EU open ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
