European Markets Edged Higher In Cautious Trading Ahead of Earnings Results

Bridgette Randall
28 Apr, 2025
London

Stock market indexes across the eurozone advanced in Monday's trading and extended April gains as earnings season got underway. 

Benchmark indexes in Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, and London advanced amid cooling trade tensions with the U.S. 

Despite the recent gains in stock market indexes, investor sentiment remains fragile amid the weakening economic outlook and macro headwinds faced by the four largest export-driven economies of the eurozone—Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

Market sentiment was bolstered in the previous week after corporate earnings either met or surpassed low expectations, but several companies refrained from providing annual outlooks, citing elevated economic and trade uncertainties.  

Investors are looking ahead to the release of Eurozone consumer confidence and inflation expectations and manufacturing business activities in France, Germany, the UK, and the Eurozone.

The UK, Germany, and Spain’s retail sales are also scheduled for the week ahead.

In the UK, the Nationwide House Price Index is expected to provide insights into market trends after recent tax changes.

On the earnings front in Europe, markets are looking ahead to the results from Schneider Electric, Deutsche Börse, AstraZeneca, Novartis, HSBC Holdings, BP PLC, Deutsche Bank, Porsche, Airbus, Shell plc, London Stock Exchange, Lloyds Banking, and BASF.

 

Europe Indexes and Yields

The DAX index increased by 0.4% to 22,323.59, the CAC-40 index edged higher by 0.5% to 7,577.00, and the FTSE 100 index advanced by 0.4% to 8,446.04.

The yield on 10-year German bonds inched higher to 2.50%, French bonds increased to 3.22%, the UK gilts moved up to 4.49%, and Italian bonds edged higher to 3.61%.

The euro decreased to $1.13; the British pound was lower at $1.33; and the U.S. dollar was higher and traded at 83.01 Swiss cents.

Brent crude increased $0.17 to $67.04 a barrel, and the Dutch TTF natural gas was higher by €0.38 to €32.35 per MWh.

 

Europe Movers 

Vivendi SE decreased 3% to €2.53 after the French media company reported a modest increase in revenue in the first quarter. 

Revenue inched up 0.6% to €69.4 million from €69.0 million a year ago, driven by a 13.5% increase in PC and console sales.

Net asset value was €5.2 billion, an increase of 7.8% compared to the quarter ending in December, and net debt was €1.660 billion, compared to €2.072 billion sequentially in the previous quarter.

Net debt declined after the company used €684 million of proceeds from the 15% sale in Italy-based mobile telephone company TIM to Poste Italiane to repay some of its outstanding debt.