Newsquawk Daily European Equity Opening News - 14th September 2026

APAC stocks were ultimately mixed after gradually improving from the initial risk-off mood seen at the start of the session, which had been triggered by AI-related selling after key industry executives called for a slowdown in AI development. There were also headwinds from the conflict in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia shut its East-West Pipeline following drone attacks last week, which threatens the loss of 4% of global supply, while Oman postponed the Persian Gulf meeting on Monday, where Iran had planned to formally unveil a temporary shipping lane agreement for the Strait of Hormuz. ASX 200 was kept afloat in range-bound trade amid resilience in defensives and the consumer sectors, while there were some comments from RBA Assistant Governor Hunter, who stated that Australian household spending is holding up okay and business investment is showing signs of strength, but also noted inflation remains above target. Nikkei 225 slumped at the open amid notable losses in Kioxia and with SoftBank dropping by double-digit percentages owing to its heavy AI exposure, although the index is well off today's worst levels amid mixed yields in Japan and with the TOPIX index in the green. KOSPI underperformed amid losses in semiconductor heavyweights, while today marks the start of the Korea Exchange extending trading hours to allow stock trading until 8pm local time. Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp pared opening losses and moved into the green, but with upside capped ahead of tomorrow's activity data, while US President Trump said he is not worried about Chinese President Xi cancelling their planned summit after reports that Beijing informed Washington it will cancel the planned summit if any new arms sales to Taipei are approved.

CLOSES: Euro Stoxx 50 +0.85% at 6,322, DAX 40 +0.77% at 25,557, FTSE 100 +0.39% at 10,650, CAC 40 +0.78% at 8,180, FTSE MIB +1.36% at 52,512, IBEX 35 +0.91% at 19,839, PSI +0.73% at 9,525, SMI +0.34% at 13,787, AEX +0.50% at 1,099

SECTORS: Telecoms 1.18%, Financials 1.05%, Industrials 0.86%, IT 0.81%, Consumer Disc 0.46%, Energy 0.38%, Utilities 0.10%, Materials -0.19%, Consumer Stpl -0.23%, Healthcare -0.64%

AstraZeneca (AZN LN) - Co. announces that its Phase 3 Serena 4 trial of Etcamah in combination with palbociclib, a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitor, did not meet the primary endpoint of progression-free survival in patients with breast cancer. Elsewhere, the Co. gave new data reinforcing Tagrisso as the standard of care and backbone therapy in EGFRm lung cancer across stages, showing the longest survival data ever reported in a Phase 3 trial. Additionally, the Co. states positive results from the DESTINY-Lung04 Phase III trial showed Enhertu demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival as a 1st-line treatment of patients with NSCLC. (AstraZeneca)

GSK (GSK LN) - Co. says it will be closing its flu vaccination factory in Dresden, Germany, due to the slowing demand for its egg-based flu vaccines. Elsewhere, GSK licensor Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group said the Phase III ARTEMIS-008 trial met its primary overall survival endpoint in relapsed small-cell lung cancer, while separately reporting positive Phase I/II ARROS-1 results for Jideytro in TKI-naive ROS1-positive NSCLC. (Newswires)

Schroders (SDR LN) - Co.'s wealth unit CEO says they are exploring M&As to help refocus on very affluent clients, the FT reports. (FT)

OTHER UK COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

Antofagasta (ANTO LN) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Berenberg

HSBC (HSBA LN) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Keefe Bruyette

Standard Chartered (STAN LN) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Keefe Bruyette

German Pharma - Germany is reportedly developing a pharmaceutical pricing proposal for the Trump administration in an effort to avert potential US tariffs on German goods, reports Politico. (Politico)

OTHER GERMAN COMPANIES

Nordex (NDX1 GY) - Co. says it has received an order for 34 MW in Hesse, supplying and installing 5 N175/6.X turbines. (EQS)

BROKER MOVES

Euronext (ENX FP) - Co. CEO tells the FT that they are open to a merger with Deutsche Boerse (DB1 GY) or a tie-up between the stock exchange businesses, stating that it could boost liquidity and help make European markets more competitive, however cautions that the merger would have significant regulatory hurdles. (FT)

L’Oreal (OR FP) - Arizona sued L’Oreal and its US subsidiary, alleging they concealed cancer risks linked to hair relaxers and violated state consumer-protection laws, Reuters reports. The state seeks penalties, damages and warnings on sales. L’Oreal denies the claims and says its products are safe. The company also faces more than 12,000 similar lawsuits consolidated in federal court, the report notes.

OTHER FRENCH COMPANIES

Capgemini (CAP FP) - Co. announces that it has entered into an agreement with ITC Federal for the sale of Capgemini Government Solutions; no terms disclosed. (Capgemini)

BROKER MOVES

Hermes (RMS FP) downgraded to Add from Buy at AlphaValue

Renault (RNO FP) upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Morgan Stanley

Irish Whiskey Tariffs - US President Trump announces that the US will remove US tariffs on Irish whiskey. (Newswires) Of note for Pernod Ricard (RI FP)

Italy Credit Rating - Fitch affirms Italy at 'BBB+'; outlook stable. Fitch says that the "continued increase in public debt/GDP over the medium term" is a risk that could result in a downgrade. On the upcoming elections, Fitch observed that the "recent political stability has been a positive anchor for Italy's sovereign rating", and that the law to switch the proportional electoral system could favour a stable government. (Fitch)

Stellantis (STLAM IM/STLAP FP) - Co. is reportedly planning to invest over EUR 1bln to design and build a new van in France, Bloomberg reports. Elsewhere, the Co. has signed a memorandum with Roshel that details the sale of an unused car factory near Toronto for up to CAD 4.9bln. In other news, Unifor says talks with Stellantis have reached an impasse in collective bargaining negotiations and is actively considering next steps. (Bloomberg/Newswires/Unifor)

BROKER MOVES

Stellantis (STLAM IM/STLAP FP) downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley

Roche (ROP SW) - Co. says collaborator MediLink’s Phase III TAISHAN-302 trial of Tam-Peli met its primary overall survival endpoint in relapsed small-cell lung cancer, reducing death risk by 54%. Tam-Peli also improved progression-free survival and response rates versus topotecan. China’s NMPA has accepted the NDA for filing.

OTHER SWISS COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

Huber+Suhner (HUBN SW) initiated with a Buy at Jefferies

Straumann Holding (STMN SW) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs

Kesko (KESKOB FH) - Reports August sales +5.4% Y/Y. (Kesko)

BROKER MOVES

Axfood (AXFO SS) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Handelsbanken

Elisa (ELISA FH) downgraded to Sell from Hold at Handelsbanken

Telia (TELIA SS) upgraded to Hold from Sell at Handelsbanken

CLOSES: SPX +0.83% at 7,655, NDX +0.91% at 29,368, DJI +0.98% at 52,573, RUT +0.40% at 2,903.

SECTORS: Communication Services +1.35%, Consumer Discretionary +1.13%, Technology +1.11%, Industrials +1.07%, Real Estate +0.88%, Financials +0.62%, Consumer Staples +0.56%, Materials +0.50%, Energy +0.34%, Health -0.15%, Utilities -0.33%.

AI Risks - Multiple AI platforms have voiced concerns about the pace of development of their most advanced models due to escalating risks of the technology. Anthropic CEO posted that they would implement new safety steps while calling for support of a broader downshift. Additionally, the OpenAI CEO Altman said the Co. will not conduct an IPO this year and will prioritise safety, due to concerns over AI that render "unacceptable".

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Apollo Global Management (APO) - Apollo is in talks to acquire Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Synthes orthopaedics unit at a valuation near USD 20bln, Bloomberg reports. A deal could be reached within weeks, though talks may fail or another bidder could emerge. J&J could also pursue a public spin-off.

Nvidia (NVDA), Anthropic - Anthropic is in talks to bring Nvidia in as an anchor investor for an IPO that could raise up to USD 100bln at around a USD 2tln valuation, Reuters reports. Nvidia is considering investing up to USD 10bln. The listing is expected before the November US midterm elections, though plans remain under discussion and could change.