EUROPE MARKETS: Italian Stocks Surge, Flirt With Best Day In 5 Weeks Amid EU Budget Clash
October 16 2018 - 10:46AM
Dow Jones News
By Mark DeCambre, MarketWatch
FTSE 100 up 0.2% behind lagging behind its peers as Brexit
remains in focus
Italy's benchmark on Tuesday was set for its best day in about
five weeks, while U.K. stocks lagged behind a buoyant European
equity market, amid brewing political turmoil that has continued to
result in outsize moves in those spotlighted eurozone regions.
A rally for U.S. stocks
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-poised-to-rise-after-mondays-tech-driven-selloff-2018-10-16)
after a crop of upbeat earnings
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dows-earnings-reporters-providing-a-92-point-boost-to-futures-rally-2018-10-16)
was also driving investors toward equities.
What are markets doing?
Italy's FTSE MIB Italy index was up 1.9% to 19,649.19 on track
for its best daily gain since Sept. 10 when the index jumped 2.3%,
according to FactSet data. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 , meanwhile, was up
0.2% to 7,044.73.
The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 gained 1.4% to reach 364.18
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/european-stocks-see-bounce-but-on-track-for-big-weekly-declines-2018-10-12),
poised for its best day since June. Germany's DAX 30 rose 1.1% to
11,746.78, while France's CAC 40 rose 1.3% to 5,158.98.
The euro was off at $1.1574, compared with $1.1580 late Monday
in New York. The pound was last changing hands at $1.3212, up from
$1.3151 late Monday.
What is driving the market?
Italy's government late Monday approved a draft budget law for
next year
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/italys-government-oks-draft-budget-that-would-widen-deficit-2018-10-15),
confirming a set of measures that could lead to a fast-rising
deficit but heightens a conflict with the European Union over the
size and scope of its budget deficit.
The antiestablishment 5 Star Movement and the far-right League
have rattled financial markets over the potential for a dust-up
between Italy's government and the EU, which could prove disruptive
to the integrity of the bloc.
The full draft budget law will be sent to the Italian parliament
by Saturday. Lawmakers will need to approve it by the end of the
year.
Rome's drafted measures are set to widen the budget deficit to
2.4% of gross domestic product or higher, in defiance of EU rules
that require a shrinking deficit. The Italian government said it
would raise welfare and pension spending and cut taxes, despite the
negative reaction from investors and Brussels to its proposals.
Meanwhile, on Monday, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May called for
"cool, calm heads" as she described Britain's chances of striking a
trade pact as it exist from the EU as "still achievable," in a
speech in front of parliament.
May believes that a Brexit trade pact is "still achievable,"
while European Council President Donald Tusk warned in a letter to
EU leaders on Monday warned that no-deal, in which no trade
agreement is forged as Britain exits from the EU is "more likely
than ever before."
A summit of European leaders in Brussels is set for Wednesday
where it is hoped that a deal can be reached.
Separately, U.K. wage growth accelerated over the summer at the
fastest pace in almost a decade, adding to signs of inflationary
pressure, Tuesday data showed
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/uk-wage-growth-fastest-in-almost-10-years-2018-10-16-4485395).
That news triggered a surge in the pound.
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/british-pound-rallies-after-wage-data-dollar-traders-await-treasury-report-2018-10-16)
Stocks on the move
Volvo AB(VOLV-B.SK) slumped over 3% after warning that engines
in some of its trucks and buses may be exceeding emission limits
for nitrogen oxide, and "the costs could be material."
(https://www.volvogroup.com/en-en/news/2018/oct/news-3085515.html)
Drug majors were leading the gainers, with Novartis AG (NOVN.EB)
and Roche Holding Ltd.(ROG.EB) up 1% each.
On the downside, British American Tobacco PLC(BATS.LN) dropped
over 2% after the company backed 2018 earnings targets, but cut
expectations for revenue from tobacco-heating and vapor products.
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bat-backs-earnings-target-for-2018-2018-10-16)
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bat-backs-earnings-target-for-2018-2018-10-16)--
Barbara Kollmeyer contributed to this report
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 16, 2018 10:31 ET (14:31 GMT)
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