Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day
Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day
(Bloomberg) --
Good morning. China made a trade threat against Germany, the U.K. prime minister is preparing to re-shape his top team and there’s a big food ingredients deal. Here’s what’s moving markets.
China Warns Germany
Investors reacting to an apparent easing in international trade tensions might not be celebrating for long. China’s ambassador to Germany threatened Berlin on Saturday with retaliation if it excludes Huawei Technologies Co. as a supplier of 5G wireless equipment, citing the millions of vehicles German carmakers sell in China. It comes as some German lawmakers challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel’s China policy with a bill that would impose a broad ban on “untrustworthy” 5G vendors.
Re-Shape
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is preparing to re-shape his cabinet after winning a big majority in last week’s election, while also on a collision course with Scotland’s leader Nicola Sturgeon over the future of the U.K. The backlash against those at the top of the Labour Party following the party’s landslide loss in the election continued at the weekend. Leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote in an op-ed that the party had “won the argument,” but what matters now is who will replace him. Here’s who’s in the running.
Food Ingredients Deal
A $26.2 billion deal in the U.S. could impact European chemicals stocks today. International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. reached an agreement for DuPont Inc.’s nutrition division, prevailing over Irish dairy firm Kerry Group Plc as it continues to expand in the fast-growing food-ingredients business. The deal is the latest as the food-flavoring industry rushes to consolidate as growth slows and flavor makers contend with volatile raw-materials prices.
Markets
Equities were lower in Tokyo and Hong Kong and little changed in Seoul, while U.S. futures edged higher after the S&P 500 closed little changed on Friday. While the clearest impact from Friday’s U.S.-China trade announcements was avoiding a scheduled tariff hike, it’s less clear how China will follow through on pledges to boost American agricultural imports, perhaps containing gains for shares. Meanwhile, the pound extended the post-election rally, and in commodities, oil slipped back below $60 a barrel.
Coming Up…
We’ll get euro-area and U.K. purchasing managers index data following months of woeful readings, while Chinese industrial production and retail sales data beat estimates earlier. In earnings, Swedish fast-fashion group Hennes & Mauritz AB updates, as does Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct International Plc.
What We’ve Been Reading
This is what’s caught our eye over the past 24 hours.
- Mercedes delays electric debut after Jaguar and Audi SUVs flop.
- Getting creative with earnings adjustments helps sell deals.
- Taylor Swift confirmed to headline Glastonbury.
- Chinese channel pulls Arsenal-Man City game after Ozil comments.
- French New Wave actress Anna Karina dies at 79.
- Russia moves toward ending ban on blood diamonds.
- Swedish bamboo toothbrush shows allure of sustainable investing.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Phil Serafino at pserafino@bloomberg.net
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