- European equities fell for the second straight day, touching a three-week low, as accelerating inflation in Germany lifted bond yields and prompted traders to pare bets on central bank easing.
- The Stoxx Europe 600 dropped 1.1% at the close in London, its biggest one-day slide in over a month, with miners as well as travel and leisure underperforming.
- Among individual companies, Royal Mail-owner International Distribution Services Plc gained after agreeing to a £3.6 billion takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. Anglo American Plc fell after rejecting BHP Group’s request for more time to commit to a takeover offer.
European equities hit a three-week low as German inflation data spurs bond yields higher, impacting market sentiment.
European Equities Decline Amid Rising Inflation
European stocks experienced a significant decline, with the Stoxx Europe 600 index dropping 1.1% by the close in London. This marked the index’s largest one-day slide in over a month. The decline was driven by sectors such as miners, travel, and leisure, which underperformed amid concerns over rising inflation in Germany. The inflation data has led to increased bond yields, prompting traders to reassess their expectations for central bank easing.
Impact on Individual Companies
Among individual companies, Royal Mail-owner International Distribution Services Plc saw a positive movement, gaining after agreeing to a £3.6 billion takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. In contrast, Anglo American Plc faced a decline after rejecting BHP Group’s request for more time to commit to a takeover offer. These corporate developments highlight the mixed reactions within the market to ongoing economic and corporate news.
Bond Yields and Market Reactions
On Wednesday, bond yields in Europe and the US rose, with German 10-year yields hitting six-month highs. This increase followed data showing that consumer prices rose 2.8% from a year ago in May, up from 2.4% in April and exceeding the 2.7% median estimate in a Bloomberg poll of economists. The rise in Treasury yields also contributed to the market’s volatility, trading near a three-week high.
Analyst Insights
Marija Veitmane, senior multi-asset strategist at State Street Global Markets, commented on the bond market’s reaction, stating that stronger economic data is reinforcing the “higher-for-longer” narrative for interest rates. This scenario is generally unfavorable for stocks, particularly European ones, which have a higher concentration of economically sensitive stocks that struggle in slower economic growth environments.
Conclusion
European equities are still poised to end the month with gains, buoyed by a better-than-expected earnings season and expectations that the European Central Bank will start cutting interest rates soon. However, the market has lost ground since mid-month due to stronger data prints, particularly in the US, which have dampened hopes for rate cuts. Investors will need to stay vigilant as economic data continues to influence market dynamics and central bank policies.
