This is CNBC’s live blog covering European markets.
London’s FTSE 100 index provisionally ended 0.3% lower on Wednesday, extending earlier losses, while most European markets were closed for the May Day/Labor Day public holiday.
Investors nonetheless have plenty to digest, with the U.S. Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate announcement after the central bank’s monetary policy committee concludes a two-day meeting later on Wednesday.
The interest rate decision follows another hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation reading last Friday. The U.S. central bank is widely anticipated to keep the borrowing cost unchanged but investors will closely monitor the post-announcement press conference with Chair Jerome Powell for clues on when that stance might change.
In Europe, results came in from luxury carmaker Aston Martin, which reported swelling losses, and GSK, which hiked its full-year profit forecast.
U.S. stocks were lower on Wednesday as Wall Street braced for the Fed policy decision.
In the Asia-Pacific region overnight, Australian and Japanese markets fell. Most Asian markets were also closed on Wednesday due to the Labor Day holiday.
Britain’s FTSE 100 index closes lower
The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index provisionally closed 0.3% lower on Wednesday, with most European markets closed as traders observed the May Day/Labor Day public holiday.
The market moves come as investors closely monitor the Federal Reserve’s forthcoming interest rate decision.
— Sam Meredith
Oil prices dip
Oil prices were lower on Wednesday afternoon as energy market participants closely monitored the prospect of a cease-fire agreement in the Middle East.
International benchmark Brent crude futures for July delivery were down 0.8% at $85.61 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for June delivery stood 0.8% lower at $81.29.
— Sam Meredith
S&P 500, Nasdaq open lower
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite opened lower Wednesday as Wall Street braced for the Federal Reserve upcoming rate decision.
The broad market index slipped 0.15%, along with the Nasdaq. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 46 points, or 0.1%
— Samantha Subin
Stocks on the move: Mulberry down 9.3% after flagging continued challenges
Mulberry shares were 9.3% lower at 1:56 p.m. in London after the British retailer, known for its luxury handbags reported a 4% fall in revenue and 3.2% decline in retail sales in a full-year trading update.
“While we achieved positive revenue growth in the first half, Mulberry has not been immune to the broader downturn in luxury spending experienced in recent months, particularly in the UK and Asia. This decline was partially offset by positive trading in the US, where we have benefitted from increased brand awareness,” CEO Thierry Andretta said in a statement.
Andretta said the trading environment in the U.K. and key luxury market China remained challenging and was not expected to change in the short-term.
“We are therefore managing the business prudently, focusing on executing our strategy and vision to become a global sustainable luxury brand,” Andretta said.
The company has in recent years shifted more of its production to the U.K. after facing ongoing supply chain challenges.
— Jenni Reid
U.S. and UK experiencing different types of inflation, investor says
Haig Bathgate, head of investments at Atomos, comments on the state of the economy and investing in bond markets.
UK house prices fall for second straight month
The morning light illuminates terraced streets of residential houses, on October 18, 2023 in Bristol, England.
U.K. house prices slid for a second straight month in April, according to an index published by lender Nationwide.
Prices declined 0.4% month-on-month, following a 0.2% fall in March. Economists polled by Reuters had expected another reading of a 0.2% drop.
On an annual basis, prices were 0.6% higher in April, marking a slowdown from 1.6% growth in March.
Robert Gardner, chief economist at Nationwide, said that the figures likely reflected ongoing affordability pressures on buyers due to higher interest rates.
Seasonally-adjusted U.K. house prices are now around 4% below the all-time highs reached in the summer of 2022, Gardner added.
Mortgage rates have ticked higher in recent months, as markets have pulled back their expectations over the breadth of Bank of England interest rate cuts this year. The average 2-year fixed residential mortgage rate was 5.91% on May 1, according to Moneyfacts data, up from 5.8% at the start of April.
— Jenni Reid
Bellweather retailer Next reports sales rise, reiterates full-year guidance
A shopper browses clothes on display at a Next Plc store in London, UK, on Monday, April 29, 2024.
Next shares were 0.3% lower at 10 a.m. in London after the British clothing and homewear retailer maintained its full-year profit and sales guidance.
The company, viewed by some as an indicator of U.K. consumer demand, reported a 5.7% rise in year-on-year sales for the first quarter in a trading update.
In-store sales were flat, while online sales rose 8.8%.
Economists expect an improvement in the U.K. retail environment this year amid rising real household incomes and potential interest rate cuts.
— Jenni Reid
Aston Martin shares tumble as losses widen
Aston Martin DBX707 SUV
Aston Martin shares fell more than 11% in early deals, after the luxury carmaker said its adjusted loss before tax nearly doubled to £110.5 million ($137.8 million) in the first quarter. The results were worse than the market forecast.
Shares pared losses and were 7% lower by 9:05 a.m. London time.
Analysts at Jefferies said the results were a “big miss across metrics,” flagging a 26% drop in sales volumes.
Aston Martin said the delivery of four new models in 2024 would power “significant growth” in the second half of the year and beyond, and that the quarter represented an “expected period of transition.”
Read more here.
— Jenni Reid
FTSE 100 opens higher
The London Stock Exchange Group offices are seen in the City of London, Britain.
The U.K.’s FTSE 100 was 0.2% higher at 8:30 a.m. London time.
Most European bourses are closed for the May Day public holiday. The regional Stoxx 600 index closed lower Tuesday as it clocked its first monthly decline since October.
— Jenni Reid
GSK hikes full-year profit outlook
GSK reported a 27% rise in core operating profit in the first-quarter, coming in above expectations in a company-compiled consensus, as the pharmaceutical giant raised its growth outlook for the full-year.
The British company said it now expects core operating profit growth of 9% to 11% in 2024, up from a previous outlook between 7% and 10%. It now also anticipates core earnings per share will expand by between 8% and 10%, from a previous guidance of 6% to 9% growth.
— Jenni Reid
CNBC Pro: Only 2 stocks in Europe have beaten estimates for 5 quarters and rallied each time
Only two European stocks have positively surprised markets every quarter for the past five quarters, according to analysis by CNBC Pro.
CNBC Pro screened for Stoxx 600 stocks that report EPS figures and have analysts’ estimates available on FactSet.
One of the stocks stood out for several large share price jumps following quarterly earnings releases. Most recently, the company beat earnings estimates by 6.1% and shares rallied by more than 8% in the following session. Similarly, the stock rallied by 12.8% in a single session four quarters ago.
CNCB Pro subscribers can read more about the stocks here.
— Ganesh Rao
Oil on pace for three straight days of losses amid rising inventory and ceasefire hopes
Oil prices have fallen for a third straight day as U.S. inventories rise as well as optimism for a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East.
Brent contracts slid 0.88% to $85.57 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude saw a larger loss of 1.03% to $81.09 per barrel.
Reuters reported that U.S. crude oil inventories swelled last week by 4.906 million barrels, while gasoline and distillate stockpiles fell, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.
— Lim Hui Jie
CNBC Pro: Citi names 3 biotech stocks to play a growing $2.9 billion opportunity — giving one about 50% upside
The outlook is starting to look bright for biotech stocks, according to some.
With markets now expecting the first rate cut to be in September rather than June or July, as previously thought, biotech stocks could start to do well.
Biotech encompasses many different areas, but Citi has identified one with a $2.9 billion market — which it says is set for even more growth. According to Citi, the market for it is set to grow by mid-single digit over the next five years.
CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.
— Weizhen Tan
European markets: Here are the opening calls
Only London’s FTSE index is open today with the German DAX, French CAC and Italian FTSE MIB closed for the May Day/Labour Day holiday.
The FTSE 100 index is expected to open 11 points lower at 8,132, according to data from IG.
Earnings come from GSK, Next, Abrdn, Metro Bank, Aston Martin Lagonda and Domino’s Pizza Group.
— Holly Ellyatt