China Weighs on Europe

Ivaylo
30 May, 2007
New York City

European stocks traded lower on Wednesday, reacting to sharp declines on Asian stocks markets after the Chinese government tripled the stamp duty payable on share trading. China undertook the move to cool a rally in its equity market, giving rise to speculation that the fastest growing major economy in the world will trigger another slump in global shares. Back in Europe, Frankfurt Xetra Dax shed 0.8%, the CAC 40 in Paris lost 0.8% and London FTSE 100 slipped 0.7%.

[R]6:30AM European markets decline Wednesday, reacting to Chinese economic measures.[/R]

European markets were lower on Wednesday. By mid-day trading, Frankfurt Xetra Dax shed 0.8% to 7,721.72, the CAC 40 in Paris lost 0.8% to 6,010.57 and London FTSE 100 slipped 0.7% to 6,558.2. National benchmarks fell in all 17 western European markets that were open.

Advancers

British Energy Group, the U.K. biggest electricity generator, gained 1.5%. The company posted an 8.1% rise in full-year profit to 465 million pounds, or $921 million.

LogicaCMG rallied 4.3%. Permira Advisers LLP, Europe largest leveraged buyout fund, is examining a potential takeover bid for the U.K. company following news that Martin Read will step down as chief executive officer.

Unibail Holding, largest real estate investment trust in France, added 1.7%. Air France-KLM, the biggest European airline, climbed 1.5%. The companies are due to join the CAC 40 Index on June 18.

Decliners

Decliners with the greatest exposure to China included luxury goods groups. Richemont, the Swiss watch maker whose strong first-quarter profit growth was partly thanks to consumer strength in China, fell 1.4%. Christian Dior shed 1.5%, while LVMH, which is also targeting growth in China, fell 1.8%.

Spanish construction group FCC fell 2.4% over disappointment that its Realia property joint venture prices its initial public offering at 8.80 euros, only midway between the indicative range of 7.90euros to 9.70 euros.

Shares of Statoil lost 1.5%. Norway largest oil and gas producer said first-quarter profit fell 28 % to $1.27 billion on lower energy prices. GlaxoSmithKline declined 2.1%, its lowest in two years, after Merrill Lynch reduced its recommendation for the world second-largest drugmaker, to sell from neutral.

Commodities

Crude oil rose in New York before a report that may show U.S. refinery production will pick up too late to satisfy peak demand. An attack on a Nigerian pipeline helped push prices higher. Crude oil for July delivery was at $63.55 a barrel, up 40 cents, in after-hours electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude oil for July settlement was at $68.39 a barrel, up 29 cents, today on the London-based ICE Futures exchange.

Gold for immediate delivery in London gained 60 cents, or 0.1%, to $657.45 an ounce, while silver dropped 2.5 cents to $13.16 an ounce.

Currencies

The euro was down slightly against the U.S. dollar Wednesday following an unexpected rise in U.S. consumer confidence. The euro bought $1.3434 in morning European trading, down from $1.3453 in New York late Tuesday. The British pound slipped to $1.9783 from $1.9800, while the dollar edged up to 121.59 Japanese yen from 121.55 yen.

[R]5:30AM Gold gains Tuesday on weaker dollar, energy, agricultural stocks also advance.[/R]

The weaker dollar helped boost the June contract for gold up $1.90 to settle at $657.20 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Silver tracked gold higher, with the July contract adding 22.3 cents to close at $13.223 an ounce.

The world refined copper market saw a sharp production deficit in February compared with a year-ago surplus, according to the latest monthly bulletin from the International Copper Study Group. Copper for July delivery closed a fraction of a penny lower at $3.32 a pound on the Nymex.

Light, sweet crude oil for July delivery tumbled $2.05 to finish at $63.15 a barrel. June gasoline futures fell 10.58 cents to settle at $2.2979 a gallon. July corn dipped 11.2 cents to $3.646 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade. A bushel of wheat for July delivery shed 10 cents to $4.91, and July soybeans fell 15 cents to $7.974 a bushel.