👀 Copy Legendary Investors' Portfolios in One ClickCopy For Free

UPDATE 2-BP and Glencore drive best day in four months for European shares

Published 02/05/2020, 01:42 AM
UPDATE 2-BP and Glencore drive best day in four months for European shares
BP
-
MCRO
-
GLEN
-
SGSN
-
AMBUb
-
STOXX
-
SXEP
-
SXPP
-
RACE
-

(For a live blog on European stocks, type LIVE/ in an Eikon
news window)
* Earnings underpin rally in Europe
* Basic resources index up 3.5%, Glencore rallies on results
* BP drives gains in oil and gas sector
* Ambu soars 24% as quarterly revenue beats forecasts
* Chinese central bank injects 1.7 trillion yuan
* Micro Focus tumbles, chairman quits after poor results

(Updates with closing prices)
By Susan Mathew
Feb 4 (Reuters) - European shares clocked their biggest
one-day gain in nearly four months on Tuesday as upbeat earnings
updates from BP BP.L and Glencore GLEN.L along with China's
moves to support its markets lifted sentiment.
China's central bank injected 1.7 trillion yuan ($243
billion) on Monday and Tuesday to stabilise markets that fell
heavily on heightened fears over the potential economic fallout
from the fast-spreading coronavirus.
In line with a pick up in global stocks, the pan-European
STOXX 600 index .STOXX finished up 1.6%, building on Monday's
gains after virus fears knocked 3% off the index last week.
"It's just the stimulus out of China adding to confidence
today," said Willie Delwiche, investment strategist at Baird.
"Investors are maybe a little less concerned about virus
fears out of China and more that China is doing what it needs to
provide liquidity and kind of contain the economic impact."
But with more than 400 deaths and several travel bans on
China, headlines about the coronavirus outbreak are expected to
sway markets in the near term. MKTS/GLOB
Broad-based gains in Europe were led by a 3.5% jump in the
basic resources sector .SXPP . Packed with mining companies
focused on China, the sector broke a three-day losing run as
Glencore rallied 5.2% after it maintained 2020 output targets.
Oil company BP BP.L was the biggest boost to STOXX 600
after it raised its dividend and reported better-than-expected
fourth-quarter profit. Along with a rebound in oil prices the oil and gas sector
.SXEP , which has also been sold off heavily over the past
week, posted its best day in nearly five months.
Topping the pan-regional index was Danish medical equipment
manufacturer Ambu AMBUb.CO which soared 24% after reporting
better-than-expected quarterly revenue. But a clutch of poor earnings kept a lid on gains.
Micro Focus International MCRO.L tumbled 22%. The British
IT company said Chairman Kevin Loosemore will step down this
month after full-year results fell short of expectations.
Italian carmaker Ferrari RACE.MI slipped 2.3% despite
meeting profit targets as it provided only a cautious upgrade to
its outlook for 2020. Also languishing at the bottom of the STOXX 600 index was
Swiss inspections group SGS SGSN.S , logging its worst day in
more than 3-1/2 years after the company's second-biggest
investor, the von Finck family, cut its stake.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.