European Stocks Rise for a Fifth Day as Swatch Jumps After Beat
Views: 3840
2023-07-13 17:18
European stocks extended gains to a fifth day as cooling US inflation fueled optimism that the Federal Reserve

European stocks extended gains to a fifth day as cooling US inflation fueled optimism that the Federal Reserve is nearing the end of its interest rate hiking campaign.

The Stoxx 600 Index rose 0.4% by 9:57 a.m. in London, marking the gauge’s longest winning streak since April as it continued to recover from last week’s decline. Tech and mining subgroups outperformed, while construction stocks were laggards.

Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group AG rallied after reporting higher sales and profit in its first-half results, with China’s reopening driving a rebound and propelling results above pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, Watches of Switzerland Group Plc soared as the UK’s biggest retailer of Rolex watches said demand for luxury timepieces had remained solid despite increased prices.

Adding to the optimism was data from the Office for National Statistics showing that the UK economy shrank less than expected in May. Following Wednesday’s US consumer price data, investors turn their attention next to the producer price index, which is also taken into account by Fed officials when considering their next move.

“The recent soft US inflation data will have a positive impact on small-cap stocks and sectors sensitive to interest rates, both of which have been heavily oversold in the past three months,” said Liberum analyst Susana Cruz.

“Additionally, European equities are likely to receive support as the region faces an economic downturn caused by domestic demand reduction and influences from abroad,” Cruz said. “The latter is primarily influenced by higher borrowing costs in the US.”

Elsewhere, Britain’s homebuilders tumbled after a survey showed that prospective home buyers were pulling back from the property market at the sharpest pace in eight months. Barratt Developments Plc declined as the company announced a decline in total reservations, driven by a slump in first-time buyer bookings.

For more on equity markets:

You want more news on this market? Click here for a curated First Word channel of actionable news from Bloomberg and select sources. It can be customized to your preferences by clicking into Actions on the toolbar or hitting the HELP key for assistance. To subscribe to a daily list of European analyst rating changes, click here.

Tags industrial europe us northam stk world 1198448dlx uk markets cst cos business uhr sw 1461238dln industries asia wosg ln ret consd lux