STOXX 600 ends at two-week high with eyes on earnings, ECB decision

By Paolo Laudani, Sruthi Shankar and Johann M Cherian

(Reuters) -European stocks ended Monday's choppy session at a two-week high ahead of corporate earnings and a European Central Bank policy decision later this week, while some caution prevailed after China's weekend stimulus promises underwhelmed.

The continent-wide STOXX 600 index closed 0.48% higher, with tech, defence stocks and utilities up over 1.2% each.

France's main index underperformed other major markets. Credit ratings agency Fitch revised the country's outlook to "negative" from "stable" on Friday.

The ECB is expected to deliver another interest rate cut on Thursday after recent data signalled the euro zone economy was in worse shape than when policymakers last met.

Traders are pricing in a near 100% chance of a 25 bps rate cut this week, up from as low as 20% when the ECB met last month. Money markets have also moved to almost fully price in another such move in December.

Current indicators point to continued weakness in the German economy in the third quarter, the economy ministry said in its monthly report. The federal statistics office is scheduled to release preliminary data for Q3 GDP at the end of this month.

"While (the ECB) will likely not scrap its meeting-by-meeting approach, a probable higher emphasis on the growth risks and less concerns about inflation risks should support expectations of gradual rate cuts at the forthcoming meetings," said Martin Wolburg, senior economist at Generali (BIT:GASI ) Asset Management.

The STOXX index is less than 1% away from an all-time high, reflecting investors' confidence that lower borrowing costs will help revive the economy.

Globally, the focus was firmly on China where the government on Saturday pledged to significantly increase debt, but left investors guessing on the overall size of the stimulus.

LVMH, Hermes, Kering (EPA:PRTP ) and other French luxury stocks exposed to China fell between 0.4% and 3.8%.

Some of the biggest European companies including LVMH and ASML (AS:ASML ) are due to report results in the coming week, kicking off earnings season on the continent.

Analysts expect profit for STOXX 600 companies to grow 4.6% in the third-quarter, as per LSEG IBES data, although earnings estimates have been falling considerably since the start of September.

British betting companies Flutter, Entain and Evoke slid between 6% and 14% after a media report said the UK government is considering doubling taxes on online casinos and bookmakers.



Defence group Leonardo said it will finalise a joint venture with Germany's Rheinmetall, sending their stocks up 3.2% and 2.2% respectively. The stocks topped their respective Italian and German bourses.

Tetragon Financial surged 11% after Reuters reported that it is looking at options for Equitix, including a possible sale.

Source: Investing.com