European Markets Struggle; Ericsson, Novartis, Philips, Siemens Net Plunge

Nigel Thomas
27 Jan, 2015
New York City

Ericsson net plunged 35% to 4.2 billion kronor but sales rose 1%. Novartis net tumbled 26% to $1.5 billion and increase dividend for 2014. Philips net plummeted 68% to

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – Ericsson net plunged 35% to 4.2 billion kronor but sales rose 1%. Novartis net tumbled 26% to $1.5 billion and increase dividend for 2014. Philips net plummeted 68% to €134 million. Siemens profit tumbled 25% to €1.1 billion.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index slipped 0.8% or 54.53 to 6,797.87 and in Frankfurt the DAX index declined 1.2% or 134.14 to 10,664.19.

In Paris, CAC 40 index dropped 1.1% or 51.15 to 4,623.98.

Bond market is feeling the upcoming Greek negotiation stress and the yield of 3-year bond rose 195 basis points to 14.01% and yield of 10-year bond rose 35 basis points to 9.48%.

The ASE Index in Athens declined 4.4% led by double-digits plunge in banking stocks.

National Bank of Greece SA, Alpha Bank AE and Eurobank Ergasias SA dropped more than 11%.

Yields were unchanged for 10-year German bond at 0.39% after falling to a record low of 0.336% at close on Monday.

Italy sold 2 billion euros of zero-coupon notes maturing in August 2016 at a record low yield of 0.281%. Treasury office in Rome also sold inflation-linked debt maturing in 2018 and 2041.

The Netherlands also sold long term debt maturing between two and thirty years at yields that are sharply lower than in the previous auction on November 11.

Dutch government raised 1.15 billion euros of bonds due in 2047 at a record low yield of 1.15% compared to 1.815% in the previous auction.

The euro edged up 0.5% to 74.86 U.K. pence after the country’s gross domestic product increased 0.5% in the December quarter.

Swiss franc declined 0.3% to 1.0179 to a euro after a Swiss National Bank policy maker suggested that the central bank is prepared to intervene in the market to defend the policy guideline.

Ericsson dropped 2.5% to 95.20 kronor after the Sweden-based information and communication provider reported sales in the fourth-quarter ending in December rose 1% to 68 billion kronor from 67 billion kronor a year ago period.

Net income in the quarter plunged 35% from a year ago to 4.2 billion kronor compared to 6.4 billion kronor and diluted earnings per share dropped to 1.29 kronor from 1.97 kronor.

The sales growth in the quarter mainly driven from the Middle East, Europe and Asia, offset by sales decline in North America and gross margin surged to 36.6% across all segments from a year ago period.

Novartis AG gained 1.6% to 88.35 Swiss francs after the Switzerland-based healthcare solution provider reported net sales in the fourth-quarter ending in December dropped 2% to $14.63 billion from $14.93 billion a year ago period.

Net income in the quarter tumbled 26% from a year ago to $1.49 billion compared to $2 billion and earnings per share slipped 23% to 62 cents from 81 cents.

The healthcare company said it would increase dividend for 2014 to 2.60 francs per share compared to 2.45 francs per share in 2013.

Koninklijke Philips NV declined 5.9% to €25.22 after the Netherlands-based consumer electronics company said sales in the fourth-quarter ending in December jumped 2.2% to €6.54 billion from €6.40 billion a year ago period. Comparable sales in the quarter slumped 2%.

Net income in the quarter plummeted 67.5% from a year ago to €134 million compared to €412 million and diluted earnings per share declined to €0.15 from €0.44.

Siemens AG declined 2.4% to €100.45 after the Germany-based industrial machinery maker reported revenues in the first-quarter ending in December jumped 5% to €17.42 billion from €16.58 billion a year ago period.

Net income in the quarter tumbled 25% from a year ago to €1.08 billion compared to €1.43 billion and diluted earnings per share declined to €1.28 from €1.68.