European stocks recouped early losses on Wednesday as upbeat earnings forecast from German software group SAP and robust quarterly sales for French luxury goods maker LVMH helped soothe worries about inflation.
By 0824 GMT, the pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.2 percent after falling as much as 0.4 percent in opening trade. The German DAX gained 0.6 percent and France’s CAC 40 was flat, while UK’s FTSE 100 fell 0.4 percent.
SAP rose 4.5 percent after it raised its full-year outlook for a third time following a strong quarterly showing as more customers shift their IT operations to the cloud.
French luxury goods maker LVMH added 1.5 percent as sales at its fashion and leather goods division rose strongly in the third quarter but overall revenue growth in Asia and the United States eased after a stellar first-half performance.
“Lot of growth stocks, luxury, IT, all these have been the most affected by the recent rotation in favour of value,” said Roland Kaloyan, head of European equity strategy at Societe Generale. “My view is that fundamentals for growth stocks remain strong, and the recent rotation is an opportunity to build position.”
Kaloyan, however, added that third-quarter earnings season “will be the moment of truth for margin and pricing power stories.”
Helping sentiment on Wednesday was data that showed China’s export growth unexpectedly accelerated in September.
Worries about central banks exiting their pandemic-era stimulus, a global energy crunch and signs of elevated prices have all dampened the outlook for economic recovery, keeping the STOXX 600 nearly flat on the month after stumbling 3.4 percent in September.
The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday trimmed its 2021 global growth forecast to 5.9 percent from 6.0 percent, but left a 2022 forecast unchanged at 4.9 percent.
Third-quarter profit for STOXX 600 companies is seen rising 46.7 percent, as per Refinitiv IBES data, after a 152.6 percent in the previous quarter, with energy and industrial companies driving the biggest gains.
Meanwhile, investors will be tracking U.S. inflation data due later in the day for cues on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy outlook.
Online food ordering and delivery service Just Eat Takeaway.com was the biggest decliner on STOXX 600, down 4.2 percent, after its third-quarter orders fell short of analysts’ estimates.
Britain’s biggest housebuilder Barratt Developments added 4.3 percent after it said that forward sales for the past three months had risen above pre-pandemic levels.
Shares in other homebuilders Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, and Berkeley Group rose between 2 percent and 4 percent.
By Sruthi Shankar
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