Volatility reigns supreme

The selloff that wiped out two days of European equity gains is showing signs of easing again, as markets opened stronger this morning. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced 1 percent, along with other European exchanges including France and Germany. European stocks tumbled on Friday, deepening a weekly loss amid mixed U.S. jobs data as concern about the strength of the global economy and an impending Federal Reserve rate increase returned to center stage.

In China, the governor of the country’s central bank forecast a return to stability for markets. The world’s second- largest economy is seeking to bolster confidence after concerns over growth spurred the biggest monthly drop in global equities since 2012 in August.

Data showing German industrial production increased in July also added to investor optimism today.

Among stocks moving on corporate news, Glencore Plc jumped 13 percent after the commodity trader said it will sell assets and shares to cut its $30 billion net debt. Commodity producers including Rio Tinto Group and BHP Billiton Ltd rose at least 2 percent, following metals prices higher, as investors weighed attempts by China to play down concerns about the country’s recent currency moves and stock market volatility. The company is rated at BBB, the second- lowest investment grade, by S&P. Glencore is targeting a net debt figure in the “low $20s billion” by the end of next year.

Also, Enel SpA advanced 1.4 percent after the Italian utility said it will meet its 2015 financial targets and UniCredit SpA rose 1.6 percent after Chief Executive Officer Federico Ghizzoni told la Repubblica that the bank doesn’t need to raise capital.

In Greece, Evangelos Meimarakis, leader of the opposition New Democracy party, said he’ll invite his rival Alexis Tsipras to form a coalition to safeguard Greece’s place in the euro area, no matter the outcome of this month’s vote. During a televised interview he was quoted as saying “I believe in consensus and cooperation,” and “We have proven throughout these years that when it’s for the good of the country, for safeguarding its place in the euro area, we’re willing to cooperate.” Opinion polls over the weekend showed the third ballot in Greece this year is too close to call as Tsipras’ Syriza party is tied with New Democracy. No party is projected to gain enough votes for an outright parliamentary majority, signaling coalition talks may be needed.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG pilots will resume strike action tomorrow, almost six months after walkouts over cost cuts were halted as management and unions came together in the wake of a deadly crash at the company’s Germanwings arm. Pilots flying Airbus Group SE A330s, A340s and A380s and Boeing Co. 747s, as well as all cargo models, will strike from 8 a.m. through midnight, the Vereinigung Cockpit union said in a statement today. The action extends a series of 12 walkouts since April 2014, the last of which occurred three days before the March 24 crash in the French Alps.

Chief Executive Officer Carsten Spohr said last week he’s ready to endure more strikes to force through changes he says will help Lufthansa compete with low-cost carriers in Europe and Gulf rivals on long-haul routes. The walkouts have already wiped about 300 million euros from operating profit, causing him to cut the group’s financial targets twice during his first year in the job.

Disclaimer:

This article was issued by Simon Psaila, Treasury officer at Calamatta Cuschieri. For more information visit, www.cc.com.mt .The information, views and opinions provided in this article are being provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be construed as investment advice, advice concerning particular investments or investment decisions, or tax or legal advice. Calamatta Cuschieri & Co. Ltd has not verified and consequently neither warrants the accuracy nor the veracity of any information, views or opinions appearing on this website.