LIVE MARKETS-European equities: growth vs value
(Fixes typo)
Jan 30 (Reuters) - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets
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EUROPEAN EQUITIES: GROWTH VS VALUE (1207)
As we pointed out in yesterday's blog, years of low interest rates helped propel the
performance of growth stocks as investors were happy to buy into the promise of future earnings.
The rise in bond yields may increase the appeal of "jam today" in the form of "value" stocks.
Allianz Global Investors is watching carefully to see if bond yields are rising more because
of solid economic growth, or due to an inflation risk coupled with subdued growth. If it’s the
former, “then people won’t want to pay so much of a premium for resilient growth if they can get
more cyclical recovery,” said Simon Gergel, Chief Investment Officer for UK Equities. If the
latter, “then I think the typical growth stocks will probably do better”.
Gergel sees the UK market polarized between higher growth international companies that are
seen as more resilient like Unilever (NYSE: UL - news) or Diageo (LSE: DGE.L - news) and then smaller domestic
cyclical players facing the brunt of Brexit economic risk and a potential change of government.
Among Gergel’s more recent buys: Barclays (LSE: BARC.L - news) , Bovis Homes (Frankfurt: 911164 - news) , Land Securities (LSE: LAND.L - news)
. He also holds IG Group, National Grid (LSE: NG.L - news) , Shell (LSE: RDSB.L - news) (took some
profits recently), BP.
(Tom Pfeiffer)
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TELECOMS FACE REGULATORY TECTONIC SHIFT AS FANGS TARGETED (1143 GMT)
HSBC has taken a look at the interface of telecoms and technology regulation and for once
there's good news for phone companies, which have been the top underperformers in Europe over
the last few years whereas tech has done brightly.
"After years of being on the receiving end of onerous rules imposed at the behest of Silicon
Valley (i.e., net neutrality), there is now a tectonic shift underway for telecoms. The FANGs
(Facebook (NasdaqGS: FB - news) , Amazon, Netflix (Xetra: 552484 - news) , Google) have fallen from grace,
and telecoms operators are looking to capitalise on this," HSBC analysts led by Stephen Howard
say in a note.
"We very much doubt operators can seize the role of ‘innovation dynamo’ from the technology
giants, and even net neutrality regulation is secure for the present (at least in Europe).
However, one advantage of the new climate is that regulators now have, in the form of the FANGs,
a fresh set of targets with a far higher media profile than that of the stolid telecoms
operators," they add.
Arguably any regulatory benefit may take time to materialise, but some investors are
starting to consider the shifting regulatory environment as they look for fresh long-term
opportunities.
As you can see in the chart telecoms have led sectoral underperformers in Europe over the
last 3 years, while tech has led the gainers.
(Danilo Masoni)
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INSURANCE SECTOR REACHES A "CRITICAL JUNCTURE" (1126 GMT)
Among the positivity on cyclicals (though not on a day like today), this is the positive
view on Europe's insurance sector from Jefferies analysts.
They estimate that the value of the sector gains 6 percent for a 50bps upward move in
yields.
Jefferies adds that an increase in yields benefits the primary life sector most.
"The primary conglomerates remain highly investible, in our view, with our investment focus
on those companies continuing to refine capital allocation," Jefferies analysts say in a note.
However, they do add that, in the event of a 10 percent equity market sell-off, reinsurance
and non-life biased stocks such as Allianz (Swiss: ALV-EUR.SW - news) and Zurich are the most defensive under such a
scenario.
(Kit Rees)
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MORE INVESTORS LOOK AT DIALLING DOWN RISK (1054 GMT)
PIMCO’s European global wealth management team say they've found some of their financial
intermediary clients in Europe have been looking at reducing risk in their portfolios.
This has proven tricky in an environment of zero or negative real returns on cash, PIMCO
adds.
But they have two potential solutions: low volatility absolute return strategies and core
bond strategies, especially those with a U.S. focus.
"Increasing core bond exposure is the more contrarian view; many clients say they plan to
decrease allocations in the coming year," Ryan P. Blute, managing director and head of PIMCO’s
global wealth management business in EMEA, says in a note.
"However, core bonds can play an important diversification role in a portfolio, and U.S.
Treasuries in particular remain a source of high quality duration, historically outperforming
when there are significant declines in equity or credit markets."
(Kit Rees)
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TECH OUTPERFORMS, BUT APPLE AND SUPPLIERS REMAIN UNDER PRESSURE(1038 GMT)
While tech is outperforming the market today in a recovery from yesterday's jitters,
Frankfurt-listed shares in Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL - news) are falling 1.6 percent to hit their lowest
in three months.
The bearish sentiment from that Nikkei report we mentioned earlier still seems to be taking
its toll, and it's interesting to note that iPhone suppliers Dialog Semiconductor (LSE: 0OLN.L - news) , AMS
and ASMI are among the worst-performing in the sector.
(Helen Reid)
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IS A CORRECTION ON THE CARDS? (0845 GMT)
A negative day like today lays bare investor concerns about a more potent pullback in equity
markets.
"Given current complacency and positioning, when things go wrong there may be quite a
violent market reaction and I think we are moving more into that territory in 2018," Nicholas
Brooks, head of research and investment strategy at Intermediate Capital Group, said, adding
that he thinks we are due a correction.
Brooks recommends moving into lower-beta sectors and companies and seeking out businesses
with high cash flows in relatively defensive sectors.
(Kit Rees and Tom Pfeiffer)
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OPENING SNAPSHOT: CYCLICAL SLIDE PULLS EUROPEAN SHARES LOWER (0817 GMT)
European shares have opened lower thanks to falls among commodities-related sectors and
financials - almost all sectors are in the red. Is this the start of a pullback?
But elsewhere it's all about earnings, with a sprinkling of M&A. Alfa Laval (LSE: 0NNF.L - news) and
Swatch are the biggest risers after their updates, while UBM (LSE: UBM.L - news) is also up there
after Informa (Frankfurt: A114PL - news) confirmed its deal with the conference organiser.
Here's your opening snapshot:
(Kit Rees)
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WHAT'S ON THE RADAR FOR EUROPEAN STOCKS (0750 GMT)
Taking its cue from Wall Street and Asia, Europe’s stock market is set to suffer losses with
futures down 0.6 to 0.8 percent across the major benchmarks. A slide in Apple shares was the
catalyst for the weaker U.S. session, after a Nikkei report said the tech giant would halve its
iPhone X production.
The report came out during European trading hours on Monday and weighed on iPhone suppliers
including AMS (IOB: 0QWC.IL - news) , Dialog Semiconductor and STMicro, but there may be
further pressure on the chipmakers and tech stocks in this session as investors grow skittish
about high valuations and the equity ‘melt-up’ with the MSCI World entering its longest ever
period without a correction of more than 5 percent.
Mining stocks could also be a weight, indicated lower in pre-market as base metals lose
ground with the strengthening dollar.
Under the benchmark level, a slew of company results should keep traders busy today.
Europe’s top tech company, SAP (Amsterdam: AP6.AS - news) , will be a focus after its results came in shy of
expectations and it bought a U.S. software firm for $2.4 billion. The stock is indicated down 1
percent in pre-market.
Swatch meanwhile is seen rising 3 to 4 percent after impressive guidance and
accelerating sales.
(Helen Reid)
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EARLY MORNING ROUND-UP (0739 GMT)
Here are the company headlines grabbing our attention in Europe this morning:
SAP talks up cloud business, buys $2.4 bln U.S. sales software firm
Debt-ridden Altice (Other OTC: ATSVF - news) to further reduce share capital
Philips (Amsterdam: PHIA.AS - news) delivers on Q4 sales growth on higher order intake
SCA (Swiss: SCAB.SW - news) 2017 operating profit just beats forecasts, dividend higher
France's Elis doubles targeted cost synergies from Berendsen (LSE: BRSN.L - news) acquisition
Swatch "very positive" on 2018 after H2 sales accelerate
Renault (LSE: 0NQF.L - news) -Nissan group pips VW to become top-selling carmaker in 2017
Cevian Capital raises Ericsson (Hanover: ERCB.HA - news) stake to 9 pct
PZ Cussons Says Profitability Expected To Improve In H2
Volkswagen (IOB: 0P6N.IL - news) faces inquiry call over diesel fume tests on monkeys
Biggest investor in Italy's Safilo has no intention to change its stake
Luxottica (Milan: LUX.MI - news) sees strong adj. net profit growth after FY sales meet guidance
Hedge fund Elliott increases stake in Fox takeover target Sky (Amsterdam: BK8.AS - news)
Alfa Laval CEO sees slower Marine unit demand in Q1 after bumper Q4
(Kit Rees and Tom Pfeiffer)
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FUTURES POINT TO PULL-BACK IN EUROPEAN STOCKS (0710 GMT)
As expected futures have gapped significantly at the open - down 0.5 to 0.7 percent across
the board now. Looks like the risk-off mood across the Atlantic (Shanghai: 600558.SS - news) will sour today's trading in
Europe as well. The chipmakers and Apple suppliers will again be ones to watch, as will all
those cyclical sectors leading the rally year-to-date.
(Helen Reid)
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CORRECTION BECOMING INCREASINGLY LIKELY, SAYS GS (0656 GMT)
The S&P 500 has had the longest period since 1929 without a correction of more than 5
percent, Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS-PB - news) finds, saying a correction is overdue. The MSCI World has also entered
its longest period ever without a correction of more than 5 percent.
"As inflows into equities rise strongly alongside increasing optimism, the equity market
becomes more vulnerable to disappointments," GS writes.
They're staying bullish, though - seeing a sharp correction as more likely than a full-blown
bear market.
One interesting observation they make is that this year the S&P 500 and the VIX volatility
index have been rising together. "The increase in volatility amid a market rally may, in part,
reflect increasing risks, and may also reflect a bullish willingness to spend premium to add to
upside exposure."
GS recommends buying on dips, but would also buy hedges as protection.
If you're more of a glass half full kind of person, then you can keep looking at global
growth - running at above 5%, the strongest pace since 2010 - and global earnings - where
expectations are finally being revised up sharply.
(Helen Reid)
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SAP ANNOUNCES $2.4 BLN ACQUISITION, ALTICE TO FURTHER CUT SHARE CAPITAL (0636 GMT)
With (Other OTC: WWTH - news) tech a notable focus yesterday, and ahead of the U.S. giants reporting later this week,
all eyes will be on results from European firms in the sector to see how they stack up.
Germany's SAP, Europe's top tech company, just announced a $2.4 billion
acquisition of U.S. cloud software company Callidus Software Inc (NasdaqGM: CALD - news) - a sweetener on 2017
results which came in at the lower end of market expectations.
The firm's guidance was in line with analysts' expectations - but we'll have to see what
they make of this purchase.
At the intersection of health and tech, Dutch firm Philips reported Q4 sales growth
in line with expectations.
Elsewhere in stocks to watch today there's telecoms and cable group Altice which
is reducing its share capital to help improve returns while it restructures.
And it's a sad day for Volkswagen whose position as world's top-selling carmaker
was just nabbed by the Renault-Nissan alliance.
(Helen Reid)
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MORNING CALL: TAKING CUE FROM WALL ST AND ASIA, EUROPEAN STOCKS TO FALTER (0618 GMT)
Good morning and welcome to Live Markets.
Spreadbetters are calling European stocks markedly lower after a weaker U.S. session spread
a somewhat more bearish mood to Asian trading as well.
A slide in Apple shares was the catalyst for a broad-based pull-back on Wall Street. The
tech stock fell 1.6 percent on a Nikkei report Apple will halve its iPhone X production target,
causing the Dow and the S&P 500 to suffer their biggest one-day declines in around 5 months.
Asian stocks then retreated from their record highs, while the dollar found some support as
U.S. bond yields rose.
Spreadbetters call the FTSE down 30 points at 7,641.1 points, the DAX 51 points lower at
13,273.2 points and the CAC 40 down 16 points at 5,505.4.
(Helen Reid)
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(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Helen Reid, Kit Rees and Julien Ponthus)