Europe stocks higher despite gloomy global sentiment; Auto Trader up 13%

Unemployment in the 20-nation euro zone dipped to 6.4% in April from 6.5% in March, statistics from agency Eurostat showed.

Across the European Union as a whole, the rate was 6%, steady on the prior month.

A survey from the European Commission found economic sentiment increased “marginally” in the EU and euro area in May, while employment expectations continued on a downward trend.

Industry confidence was “broadly stable,” with an improvement in services.

“The data is still somewhat ambiguous, but today’s economic sentiment indicator adds to expectations of continued modest growth in the second quarter of 2024. This would mark a clear break from 2023 when the economy broadly stagnated,” Bert Colijn, senior euro zone economist at ING, said in a note.

“The strong job market is helping the economic recovery as it keeps wage growth elevated, and has allowed purchasing power to recover after the inflation spike.”

— Jenni Reid

European stock markets opened lower Thursday, though they moved just below the flatline in early deals as sectors spread between losses and gains.

France’s CAC 40 moved 0.14% higher while Germany’s DAX and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 fell by 0.24% and 0.1%, respectively.

Scandinavian airline SAS reported a net loss of 2.9 billion Swedish kroner ($271 million) in the quarter to April, higher than the 1.52 billion kroner loss reported in the same period last year.

That was despite a 12% increase in revenue to 9.9 billion kroner.

In its outlook, the airline said it intends to complete its restructuring proceedings in Sweden and the U.S. “as soon as possible,” with a target of summer 2024.

SAS filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. in 2022 to help it cut debt after a pilots’ strike grounded most of its flights.

European stock markets are set to extend losses on Thursday, according to IG data.

The U.K.’s FTSE 100 was last seen down 36 points at 8,145, Germany’s DAX 75 points lower at 18,402, and France’s CAC 40 down 26 points at 7,914. Italy’s MIB was seen slipping 125 points to 34,146.

— Jenni Reid

Shares of Australian miners fell after mining giant BHP walked away from its £38.6 billion ($49 billion) plan to take over rival Anglo American.

In a regulatory filing, BHP said that while it believed that its takeover bid was “a compelling opportunity to effectively grow the pie of value for both sets of shareholders,” it was unable to reach agreement with Anglo American, specifically in respect of South African regulatory risk and cost.

BHP had made two earlier offers at £31.1 billion in April, and a £34 billion offer on May 14.

Shares of BHP lost 1.73%, while counterparts Rio Tinto and Fortescue Group dropped 1.34% and 2.27% respectively.

European markets have largely had a good run this year — with several market watchers looking keenly at the region and saying that it has “greater tailwind than the U.S.“

Those searching for pockets of opportunities in the region can look to Goldman Sachs’ selection of “alpha” stock opportunities.

“Our macro team expects solid growth and monetary policy easing into 2H24. While the YTD [year-to-date] rally in equities suggests some of this optimism is already priced, with market correlation at a 5-year low, we continue to see potential for alpha opportunities,” the investment bank’s analysts noted, naming stocks they see potential in.

CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.

— Amala Balakrishner

A global investment trust based in the United Kingdom could see its stock price soar by more than 50% if restrictions on share buybacks are lifted, according to fund manager Brian McCormick.

The company, which trades on the London Stock Exchange, says it has assets worth £3 billion ($3.8 billion) and holds investments in private companies as well as publicly listed companies.

CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.

— Ganesh Rao

Although earnings from Salesforce beat analyst estimates by 6 cents, first quarter revenues fell short of expectations. That’s sending shockwaves through Wall Street as it’s the tech giant first revenue miss since February 2006, using information from earnings data firm LSEG.

Compounding the disappointing top line results is weak second quarter revenue and earnings guidance. Shares of the blue chip stock are plunging 17% on the news. That move alone would push the Dow Industrials down 315 points if Salesforce stock’s current losses hold at Thursday’s market open.

— Robert Hum

The U.S. economy grew unevenly over the past six weeks while consumers recoiled against higher prices, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday.

As part of its periodic “Beige Book” economic look, the Fed noted that the economy “continued to expand” during the period, though “conditions varied” among the 12 central bank districts.

On inflation, the report said prices rose at a “modest” pace while “consumers pushed back against additional price increases, which led to smaller profit margins as input prices rose on average.” Retailers reported offering incentives to shoppers as “price growth is expected to continue at a modest pace in the near term.”

— Jeff Cox