LIVE MARKETS-On the hunt for equity risk premia in Europe
* European shares little changed
* Geopolitical jitters keep investors cautious
April 16 (Reuters) - Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets
brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Danilo Masoni. Reach him on
Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: danilo.masoni.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
ON THE HUNT FOR EQUITY RISK PREMIA IN EUROPE (0900 GMT)
As is clear in trading thus far today, equity investors are pretty un-fussed about the
U.S.-led strikes on Syria over the weekend. UBS (LSE: 0QNR.L - news) analysts this morning echo the view of many
investors we've been speaking to, saying:
"Underneath an often sweeping discourse on political and trade-related risks, investors have
not paid enough attention to a strong and - near term - binding macro backdrop."
Strong macro growth provides a cushion for equities especially in Europe, they say, pointing
to still handsome equity risk premia.
Euro zone stocks' equity risk premium is on average higher than the U.S., as you can see
below - as the post-crisis recovery has been slower with niggling issues with banks and balance
sheets. But it's been falling back as these issues fade, helped by the better economic backdrop.
"We believe there is space for risk premia to decline further," says UBS. To harvest higher
premia "investors need only go out the risk spectrum," they say, recommending long positions in
Greek bonds and Italian banks.
(Helen Reid)
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OPENING SNAPSHOT: CAUTION PREVAILING (0743 GMT)
European shares are only cautious up this morning as traders fear the missile strikes in
Syria could lead to a further escalation of tensions between of the U.S. and Russia.
There is however some relief that the well-telegraphed attack on Syria had been limited in
scale and Wall Street futures are trading in positive territory.
(Julien Ponthus)
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EUROPEAN STOCK FUTURES EDGE UP (0602 GMT)
European shares are set to open up slightly with stock index futures on main regional
benchmarks trading up 0.1-0.3 percent. The pan-European STOXX 600 index ended on Friday at a
4-week high, up 0.1 percent.
(Danilo Masoni)
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EARLY MORNING HEADLINE ROUNDUP (0556 GMT)
WPP (Frankfurt: A1J2BZ - news) embarks on new journey without Sorrell at the helm
ECB asks Deutsche Bank (IOB: 0H7D.IL - news) to gauge investment banking exit costs -source
Activist Elliott now largest shareholder in Whitbread
Adecco (Swiss: ADEN.VX - news) to buy U.S.-based General Assembly in deal valued at $412.5 mln
Software AG (IOB: 0NJS.IL - news) raises FY industrial internet sales outlook
Unilever (NYSE: UL - news) remuneration under fire from investor advisory firms
Sulzer (IOB: 0QQ9.IL - news) gets second licence unblocking assets frozen by U.S. sanctions
Spain's ACS (Amsterdam: SR6.AS - news) to help build and maintain Toronto light railway
Activist fund SVM takes stake in Italy's TIM, backs Elliott
Major Hammerson shareholder to vote against Intu (Swiss: OXIGTU.SW - news) acquisition
German minister to carmakers: Invest in electric cars or lose out
VW's new CEO may become Audi (IOB: 0FG8.IL - news) chairman in May -sources
Rolls-Royce to bid for engines for China-Russia wide body jet -China Daily
French spirits maker Marie Brizard warns of deeper loss in 2017
(Danilo Masoni)
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MORNING CALL: EUROPEAN SHARES SEEN CAUTIOUSLY HIGHER (0530 GMT)
European shares are seen opening higher although caution will dominate after the U.S.,
France and Britain launched missiles targeting what the Pentagon said were chemical weapons
facilities in Syria in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in Douma this month.
"The firing of over 100 cruise missiles over the weekend on various targets, with little in
the way of casualties, appears to be tempered with relief that while it may reduce the risk of
an escalation in the short term, it in no way means that we might not get a counter response
further down the line," said Michael Hewson, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets (LSE: CMCX.L - news) .
Financial spreadbetters expect London's FTSE to open 12 points higher at 7,276, Frankfurt's
DAX to open 72 points higher at 12,514 and Paris' CAC to open 22 points higher at 5,337.
Over in Asia, shares were mixed as relief U.S.-led strikes on Syria looked unlikely to
escalate was tempered by concerns at Russia's potential reaction to new sanctions from
Washington.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday that further Western attacks on Syria
would bring chaos to world affairs, as Washington prepared to increase pressure on Russia with
new economic sanctions.
(Danilo Masoni)
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