Latest News

Telecoms shares drag Europe's STOXX 600 lower; Fed meet in focus

European shares fell on Monday due to a decline in the telecommunications industry, while German bond rates rose after February's euro zone inflation was as expected.

Ireland's ISEQ Index outperformed European peers by 0.1%.

Telecoms led the sectoral declines, with its worst day for three months, a drop of 1.4%. Automobiles and parts shares rose by 0.9%.

Oil and gas stock rose by 0.5% as Brent crude briefly reached $86 a barrel for the first since November before falling back. Ukraine intensified its attacks against Russian energy infrastructure.

Investors were preparing for the annual developer conference of artificial intelligence darling Nvidia, which will be held later that day.

The inflation rate in the euro zone increased at the expected annual rate of 2,6% and on a month-to-month basis of 0.6%, confirming the views that the European Central Bank will not be cutting rates for the first time.

Michael Field, European Market Strategist at Morningstar, said that the February inflation reading would not have a negative impact on the likelihood of the ECB cutting rates in June.

The benchmark 10-year bond yield in Germany rose by 2 basis points to 2.458%.

The money markets expect that the ECB will cut interest rates by 83 percentage points in 2024.

Pablo Hernandez de Cos, ECB policymaker, reaffirmed the central bank's ability to start reducing interest rates after a decrease in inflation in the euro zone.

Investors will be watching the U.S. Federal Reserve's, Bank of Japan's and Bank of England’s monetary policies meetings due this week for clues about global monetary policy ease.

In the latest corporate updates, the shares of Polish fashion company LPP rose 20.5%, topping the STOXX600, recovering some of the losses suffered last week after Hindenburg Research questioned its 2022 sale plans for its Russian assets.

Alstom, a maker of TGV trains, gained 6.4% after Deutsche Bank upgraded their rating. Signify NV climbed 2.0% after Barclays raised its stock rating and target price for the lighting solutions company.

Logitech, which dropped 6.8% after the news that Charles Boynton, Chief Financial Officer of the computer manufacturer, will be leaving in May, was among the biggest decliners.