Newsquawk Daily European Equity Opening News - 14th January 2026

ASIA

Asia-Pac stocks traded mostly in the green, with the Nikkei 225 outperforming, while the ASX 200 lagged. ASX 200 initially started the session with gains and was up as much as 0.6% before reversing due to losses in Financials. This follows poor JPMorgan (JPM) earnings, in which EPS and revenue missed estimates. Nikkei 225 was the clear outperformer in Asia-Pac equities, up 1.7% and continuing to extend to fresh ATHs. This follows increased traction around reports that PM Takaichi is set to dissolve the Lower House and call a snap election in a bid to capitalise on her healthy poll numbers, reviving the so-called ‘Takaichi trade’. KOSPI traded choppily, with the South Korean equity market peaking at a new ATH of 4,716 before falling back into Tuesday’s trading range. Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite started the APAC session on the front foot and have failed to pull back meaningfully in the early hours of trade, with the Shanghai Composite trading at ATHs around 4,181. Shanghai Comp. later completely reversed its earlier gains following margin requirement adjustment.

Chinese Data - Chinese Balance of Trade (Dec) 114.1B vs. Exp. 113.6B (Prev. 111.68B); Imports YoY (Dec) Y/Y 5.7% vs. Exp. 0.9% (Prev. 1.9%); Exports YoY (Dec) Y/Y 6.6% vs. Exp. 3% (Prev. 5.9%). (Newswires)

Japanese Politics - Japanese PM Takaichi is to inform intent to dissolve parliament on Wednesday, Nikkei reports. (Nikkei)

EUROPEAN CLOSES

CLOSES: Euro Stoxx 50 +0.24% at 6,030, Dax 40 +0.02% at 25,411, FTSE 100 -0.03% at 10,137, CAC 40 -0.14% at 8,347, FTSE MIB -0.45% at 45,525, IBEX 35 +0.08% at 17,687, PSI +0.77% at 8,559, SMI -0.44% at 13,368, AEX +0.37% at 997.

SECTORS: Energy 2.23%, IT 0.90%, Industrials 0.12%, Consumer Stpl 0.09%, Financials 0.04%, Healthcare -0.40%, Materials -0.48%, Consumer Disc -0.64%, Utilities -1.19%, Telecoms -1.56%

FTSE 100

AstraZeneca (AZN LN) - Co. to acquire Mordella AI; no terms disclosed. (AstraZeneca)

Prudential PLC (PRU LN), HSBC Holdings (HSBA LN) - Prudential appointed former HSBC chairman Douglas Flint as its next chairman, replacing Shriti Vadera. Flint will join the board in March, subject to regulatory approval, and will also sit on the nomination and governance and remuneration committees, the insurer said. (Bloomberg)

UK-EU - The City of London Corporation said the UK and EU should hold a more serious discussion on strengthening financial services cooperation to support growth. A report with think tank New Financial said market links remain strong post-Brexit, with two thirds of euro derivatives still traded in London. (Bloomberg)

OTHER UK COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

Reckitt (RKT LN) downgraded to Sector Perform from Outperform at RBC

DAX

Deutsche Bank (DBK GY) - Several Deutsche Bank India wealth management bankers have left the firm to join Lighthouse Canton, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. The moves highlight continued competition for senior talent in India’s private wealth sector. Elsewhere, the FT reports that the bank is pushing ahead with hiring in the UK. (Bloomberg / FT)

OTHER GERMAN COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

DHL (DHL GY) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Sachs

Lufthansa (LHA GY) downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Barclays

CAC

Engie (ENGI FP) - Co. has been awarded its first hybrid project in India, combining 200 MW of solar PV with 100 MW / 600 MWh of battery storage. This project will enable the storage and supply of up to 6 hours of renewable energy. (Engie)

Safran (SAF FP) - Co. announces EUR 500mln share buyback. (Safran)

OTHER FRENCH COMPANIES

Ipsen (IPN FP) - New data reinforces Ipsen’s commitment to bringing solutions and addressing care gaps in neurological diseases at TOXINS. Elsewhere, the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) for IPN60340 in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine (Ven-Aza) in first line unfit acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer affecting older adults. (Ipsen)

Scor (SCR FP) - Co. appointed Philipp Rueede as CFO. (Scor)

BROKER MOVES

Air France (AF FP) downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Barclays

EssilorLuxottica (EL FP) upgraded to Buy from Hold at HSBC

PAN EUROPE

EU-China - A Dutch court is weighing whether to open an investigation into chipmaker Nexperia BV, potentially withholding control from Chinese owner Wingtech Technology over alleged improper technology transfers. A probe would extend trustee control, while rejecting it would restore Wingtech’s authority and end the dispute, Bloomberg reports. (Bloomberg)

BROKER MOVES

SMI

OTHER SWISS COMPANIES

Avolta (AVOL SW) - Co. awarded a contracts at Geneva airport, which covers the redevelopment and operation of 12 food & beverage locations. (Newswires)

Julius Baer (BAER SW) - Co. named Jean Nabaa as COO; effective April 13th (Julius Baer)

BROKER MOVES

Kuehne und Nagel International (KNIN SW) upgraded to Buy from Sell at Goldman Sachs

SCANDINAVIA

Jyske Bank (JYSK DC) - FY (DKK): EPS 85 (exp. 83.32), Net Income 5.41bln (exp. 5.11bln). (Jyske Bank)

Novo Nordisk (NOVOB DC) - CEO expects some headwinds in international operations in 2026, speaking at a JPM conference. Adds that a loss of exclusivity in several markets in 2026 could result in Co. having a difficult year. (Newswires)

Orion (ORNBV FH) - FY Outlook (EUR): Sales 1.9-2.1bln (exp. 1.95bln), EBIT 550-750mln. Orion estimates that the annual Nubeqa net sales recorded by the company (tablet sales to Bayer + royalties) has the potential to exceed EUR 1bln in the future. (Orion)

BROKER MOVES

Maersk (MAERSKB DC) downgraded to Sell from Neutral at Goldman Sachs

Royal Unibrew (RBREW DC) upgraded to Buy from Neutral by Bank of America

US

CLOSES: SPX -0.22% at 6,962, NDX -0.18% at 25,742, DJI -0.82% at 49,182, RUT -0.02% at 2,635.

SECTORS: Energy +1.53%, Consumer Staples +1.08%, Real Estate +0.82%, Utilities +0.64%, Industrials +0.52%, Materials +0.30%, Communication Services +0.15%, Technology -0.14%, Health -0.40%, Consumer Discretionary -0.49%, Financials -1.84%.

Amazon (AMZN) - Amazon is seeking supplier discounts of between low single digits and up to 30% to reverse tariff-related concessions, ahead of a Supreme Court ruling, as it accelerates negotiations, and shifts duty risks to suppliers, FT reports. (FT)

Coca-Cola (KO) - Co. has ditched plans to sell Costa Coffee after bids from private equity suitors fell short of its expectations, FT reports citing sources. (FT)

NVIDIA (NVDA) - US Commerce Department says that Chinese companies must demonstrate sufficient security procedures in order to buy NVIDIA (NVDA) H200 chips. (Newswires)

Netflix (NFLX) - Co. weighs amending Warner Bros. (WBD) bid to make it all cash, Bloomberg reports. (Bloomberg)