© Reuters. The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, October 27, 2023. REUTERS/Staff
By Ankika Biswas and Bansari Mayur Kamdar
(Reuters) -European shares began the week on a strong footing, boosted by a drop in bond yields with investors assessing key inflation data, while Siemens Energy shares extended their recovery on continued talks over project-related guarantees.
The pan-European gained 0.4% after falling more than 4% in the past two weeks.
Aiding equities, euro area sovereign bond yields dropped with investors reckoning that markets have broadly priced in a higher-for-longer outlook for policy rates.
Data showed inflation in Germany’s most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia eased in October, while Spain’s 12-month inflation in October was unchanged from the previous month at 3.5%.
Another set showed the German economy shrank slightly in the third quarter as Europe’s largest economy continues to be weighed down by weak purchasing power and higher interest rates.
“The German economy is likely to contract somewhat further in the winter half-year because it is suffering from the massive rate hikes by the ECB and almost all Western central banks,” Commerzbank (ETR:) analysts wrote in a note.
“At the same time, consumption is unlikely to recover.”
The German closed 0.2% higher, but Infineon (OTC:) Technologies dropped 6.4% to the bottom of the STOXX index following a price target cut from Stifel.
For the week, investors will keep a close eye on policy announcements from Japan, the U.S. and the UK. Europe’s inflation data will also be monitored after the European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged last week.
The healthcare sector was the top boost with a 1.1% rise, aided by a more than 2% jump each in Novo Nordisk (NYSE:) and Sanofi (NASDAQ:).
“News that the EMA (European Medicines Agency) has found no evidence that two of Novo Nordisk’s most popular drugs increase the risk of cancer seems to have flown slightly under the radar,” said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell.
Sanofi recovered from Friday’s plunge when it announced it was abandoning its 2025 profit target.
Siemens Energy jumped 12.7% to the top of the STOXX 600 after Chairman Joe Kaeser said the company does not need money from the state, while talks with Berlin over project-related guarantees continued.
Dassault Systemes rose 2.3% after JP Morgan upgraded the French software maker to “overweight” from “underweight” on improved license trajectory and large deals return.
On the flip side, ArcelorMittal (NYSE:) dropped 3.9% after confirming discussions to nationalise its Kazakh coal mine in which at least 45 people died in a fire over the weekend.
HSBC fell 2.3% after Europe’s largest bank doubled its quarterly profit but missed estimates.