Euro zone recovery hits the skids
STOXX 600 down 0.4%
LVMH earnings drag luxury sector lower
Upbeat easyJet results lifts travel & leisure
Start of 'Mag 7' earnings disappoints
Wall St futures lower
Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com
EURO ZONE RECOVERY HITS THE SKIDS
The optimism towards the euro zone's economy at the start of the year has taken another hit on Wednesday, after PMI readings for the bloc signalled the recovery might have already petered out.
The euro zone composite PMI dropped to 50.1 in July from 50.9, below expectations for a rise to 51.1. A reading above 50 indicates growth since the previous month.
Within the report, closely watched measures of input prices increased sharply, with the pace of inflation at a 3-month high, while output prices increased at a softer pace.
"Today's PMI readings do not paint a rosy picture of the region's growth outlook and once again illustrate the sluggishness of its recovery," says Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING.
It's worth highlighting European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde last week said risks to the growth outlook were tilted to the downside. But analysts are mixed on what the data means for the chances of another cut in September, after lowering rates in June.
"If only growth was considered, you find a strong argument for a rate cut in September by the ECB. However, prices data did not provide hoped for relief." writes Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank.
"Our conclusion is that while a September rate cut will most probably be exercised, it will be much trickier to follow this path in the months thereafter, unless the downturn morphs into a deep recession."
Commerzbank also sees a September rate cut, but takes a different view on the price pressures from the report.
"The only positive news comes from the sub-category of the sales prices for services," says Commerzbank economist Vincent Stamer, highlighting that purchasing managers are observing the lowest price pressure on sales prices for three years.
"Both the weak momentum in the sentiment indicators and the assessment of service prices are likely to encourage the ECB to cut key interest rates again in September," Stamer adds.
(Samuel Indyk)
*****
WEDNESDAY'S OTHER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:
STOXX FACES A STEEPENING WALL OF DEBT MATURITIES CLICK HERE
EUROPEAN STOCKS DROP, LUXURY LAGS CLICK HERE
EUROPEAN FUTURES SLIP ON HEAVY EARNINGS DAY CLICK HERE
LACKLUSTRE EARNINGS KEEP INVESTORS JITTERY CLICK HERE
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
