Newsquawk Daily European Equity Opening News - 27th April 2026

ASIA

Asia-Pac stocks pointed to a broadly positive start of the week, mainly spurred by an Axios report detailing that Iran gave the US a new proposal, through Pakistani mediators, for reaching a deal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war. It is a three-stage proposal, with the halting of the war and focus on the Strait of Hormuz highlighted as the key points before the third stage of nuclear issues. ASX 200 was the underperformer, being weighed on by losses in Energy and Utilities following Friday’s risk-on sentiment hitting energy prices. Among the weakness, Atlas Arteria outperformed after IFM investors offers to buy the Co. for AUD 4.75/security. Nikkei 225 initially traded with a lack of direction before being boosted following the Axios report. The index has regained the 60,000 handle and continued to gain towards 61,000. KOSPI was the clear outperformer as it tracks its peers’ stateside. This was spearheaded by Intel (INTC) after the Co. reported positive Q1 earnings and beat forecasts. Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp. traded with mild gains. Chips across Asia are performing well, with China’s SMIC also benefiting from the announcement that DeepSeek’s V4 is adapted to run on Huawei chips.

EUROPEAN CLOSES

CLOSES: Euro Stoxx 50 -0.24% at 5,881, DAX -0.06% at 24,141, FTSE 100 -0.75% at 10,379, CAC 40 -0.84% at 8,158, AEX +0.64% at 1,021, IBEX 35 -1.09% at 17,691, FTSE MIB -0.52% at 47,656, SMI -0.59% at 13,170, PSI -0.92% at 9,124.

SECTORS: IT 1.92%, Consumer Stpl 0.56%, Energy 0.28%, Telecoms 0.06%, Utilities -0.74%, Financials -0.75%, Consumer Disc -0.77%, Industrials -0.83%, Materials -0.93%, Healthcare -1.65%

FTSE 100

HSBC (HSBA LN) - Co. is reportedly reviewing certain perks which cover school fees for bankers in Hong Kong, as it aims to cut costs, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter. Other options include removing the perk for new hires or adjusting overall compensation. No final decision has been made yet, and the review has been ongoing for some time. (Bloomberg)

Intertek (ITRK LN) - Co. rejects an improved GBP 9.7bln takeover offer from EQT (EQT SS) at GBP 54.00/shr, says the offer fundamentally undervalues the co. (Intertek)

Rolls Royce (RR/ LN) - "Sigma Advanced" has received a GBP 300mln pact for aerospace components. (Economic Times)

UK Stocks - UK Chancellor Reeves is to deliver speeches to set out a responsible plan to see households and businesses through the Iran war fallout, according to the FT citing sources; the Chancellor will also set out measures in June to boost growth. (FT)

UK Tech - UK ministers have voiced concerns about the damage to the tech sector and its alliance with the US as the PM plans for closer relations with the EU, FT reports citing sources. (FT)

OTHER UK COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

Kingfisher (KGF LN) upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Barclays

J Sainsbury (SBRY LN) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Citi

DAX

Adidas (ADS GY) - A pair of Adidas runners broke the sub-2-hour barrier at the London marathon over the weekend. (Adidas)

Allianz (ALV GY), Oracle (ORCL), Bank of America (BAC) - Oracle’s USD 16bln financing for a Michigan data centre closed after months of negotiations with investors, Bloomberg reports. Bank of America sold USD 14bln of project-linked bonds, anchored by Pimco, which bought USD 10bln, while other investors bought the remaining debt. Elsewhere, Allianz Global Investors secured USD 270mln in commitments for the first close of a private credit fund targeting infrastructure investment in Asia Pacific, Bloomberg reports. The fund will focus on renewable energy, digital infrastructure and transport, with a final close expected in 2027. (Bloomberg)

Bayer (BAYN GY) - Bayer is seeking US Supreme Court help to reduce Roundup litigation that has cost the company more than USD 10bln, Bloomberg reports. Its lawyers will urge justices to overturn a USD 1.25mln Missouri verdict for a man claiming Roundup caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma, arguing federal law bars such suits because regulators did not require a cancer warning. (Bloomberg)

E.ON (EOAN GY) - Sky News reported that E.ON is boosting plans for a merger with Ovo Energy. Discussions have reportedly been accelerating in recent weeks, with the goal of completing a combination. (Sky News)

German stocks - S&P affirmed Germany's sovereign rating at AAA; outlook stable. S&P says the stable outlook reflects strong external position, diversified wealthy economy. (S&P)

OTHER GERMAN COMPANIES

Delivery Hero (DHER GY) - Co. unveiled Herogen, an advanced autonomous software delivery agent that was first introduced to the company’s product and engineering teams in February. (Delivery Hero)

Nordex (NDX1 GY) - Q1 (EUR): Sales 1.59bln (exp. 1.53bln), EBITDA 130.7mln (exp. 113.8mln). Confirms FY26 guidance. (Nordex)

BROKER MOVES

Commerzbank (CBK GY) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Bank of America

CAC

Safran (SAF FP) - Co. to buyback shares of up to EUR 375mln shares. (Safran)

Thales (HO FP) - Australia announced that it is to spend AUD 1.2bln to buy around 300 armoured Bushmaster vehicles, made by Thales, and upgrade current armoured trucks for the Army. (Thales)

OTHER FRENCH COMPANIES

Forvia (FRVIA FP) - Apollo-managed funds have agreed to acquire the FORVIA Interiors business group, based on an enterprise value of EUR 1.82bln. (Forvia)

BROKER MOVES

PAN EUROPE

Gambling - Brazil has banned prediction markets on elections, sports and online gambling. (BCB)

Geopols - Iran gave the US a new proposal through Pakistani mediators for reaching a deal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war however postponing nuclear talks, Axios reports citing sources. (Axios)

Iberdrola (IBE SM) - Closing of the sale of Iberdrola Mexico to COX Asset Mexico. (Iberdrola)

BROKER MOVES

SMI

Novartis (NOVN SW) - Novartis' Rhapsido receives European Commission approval as first oral targeted treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria. (Novartis)

OTHER SWISS COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

SCANDINAVIA

BROKER MOVES

Aker Solutions (AKSO NO) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Nordea

Kemira (KEMIRA FH) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Danske Bank

Orsted (ORSTED DC) Upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs

US

CLOSES: SPX +0.80% at 7,165, NDX +1.95% at 27,304, DJI -0.16% at 49,230, RUT +0.43% at 2,787.

SECTORS: Technology +2.46%, Consumer Discretionary +1.36%, Communication Services +0.88%, Materials +0.62%, Utilities +0.16%, Energy -0.24%, Real Estate -0.38%, Consumer Staples -0.42%, Financials -0.64%, Industrials -0.89%, Health -1.37%