news

European markets trade mixed; Nestle unveils $2.8 billion cost cutting plan

Traders work on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) floor on November 12, 2024 in New York City.
Spencer Platt | Getty Images

This is CNBC's live blog covering European markets.

European markets were mixed on Tuesday, with investors keeping an eye on data releases and earnings reports.

Watch NBC6 free wherever you are

Watch button  WATCH HERE

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was last down 0.17% at 9:05 a.m. London time after initially rising when trading began. Sectors and major regional bourses mostly pulled back, with autos falling by 1%, while mining and utilities stocks rose by around 0.5% each.

Earnings came in before markets opened from Imperial Brands and Thyssenkrupp, while a finalized euro zone inflation reading for October is also due during the session. Regional markets closed lower on Monday, with investors turning their attention to regional inflation data and to Nvidia earnings due Stateside on Wednesday.

Get local news you need to know to start your day with NBC 6's News Headlines newsletter.

Newsletter button  SIGN UP

Overnight, Asia-Pacific markets traded mostly higher, as investors parsed the speech of Chinese financial policymakers at an investment summit in Hong Kong. U.S. stock futures were meanwhile higher early on Tuesday.

Mulberry falls 7% after posting 19% revenue drop in first half

Shares in British luxury company Mulberry were last down around 6.8% after the company posted its first half results.

In the 26 weeks to Sept. 28, group revenue fell 19% to £56.1 million ($71 million), the company said, down from £69.7 million a year earlier.

"The first half results illustrate the clear need to reprioritise and rebuild the business," Mulberry CEO Andrea Baldo said in a statement. Baldo took on the role of chief executive less than three months ago.

"In response to current market conditions, we have taken decisive steps to streamline operations, improve margins, reduce working capital, and strengthen our cash position," Baldo said.

— Sophie Kiderlin

Nestle to cut additional $2.8 billion of costs by 2027

The company's logo is seen at a Nestle plant in Konolfingen, Switzerland September 28, 2020.
Arnd Wiegmann | Reuters
The company's logo is seen at a Nestle plant in Konolfingen, Switzerland September 28, 2020.

Nestle on Tuesday said it would cut at least a further 2.5 billion swiss francs ($2.8 billion) on top of existing initiatives by the end of 2027, in a bid to fund higher investments.

The Swiss company plans to increase investments in advertising and marketing to 9% of sales by the end of next year.

It also said it would carve out its water and premium beverages division as a standalone business by the start of 2025.

"Nestlé's action plan presented today will allow the company to drive category growth and improve market share performance. Actions will include targeted investments in winning brands and growth platforms, more focused innovation activities to drive greater impact, and systematically addressing underperformers," the company said in the statement.

The announcement comes a mere two months after Laurent Freixe took over as Nestle CEO in September.

— Sophie Kiderlin

European markets open higher

European markets opened higher on Tuesday, with the Stoxx 600 index adding 0.35% shortly after trading began.

Sectors were all in positive territory, with mining stocks leading gains, last up 1.3%.

Regional bourses were also broadly higher, with the U.K.'s FTSE 100 rising 0.4%, while France's CAC 40 added 0.28% and Germany's DAX inched 0.1% higher.

— Sophie Kiderlin

Imperial Brands reports 4.6% increase in adjusted operating profit for its full fiscal year

Imperial Brands on Tuesday reported a 4.6% annual increase in adjusted operating profit to £3.91 billion ($4.96 billion) for its full fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30. The hike was ahead of analyst expectations, according to Reuters.

The company said the rise was driven by "improved profitability" in its tobacco and next generation products business, along with its distribution arm.

Within the tobacco division, adjusted operating profit rose 2.5%.

— Sophie Kiderlin

Thyssenkrupp books $1 billion impairment on struggling steel unit

A general view of the gate of the Thyssenkrupp industrial area in Duisburg, Germany, on August 29, 2024. (Photo by Ying Tang/NurPhoto via Getty Images).
Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images
A general view of the gate of the Thyssenkrupp industrial area in Duisburg, Germany, on August 29, 2024. (Photo by Ying Tang/NurPhoto via Getty Images).

Germany's Thyssenkrupp on Tuesday reported a 1-billion-euro ($1.06 billion) impairment on its struggling steel division as the industrial powerhouse flagged "gloomy volume" expectations and structural challenges in the sector.

The firm said its net loss of 1.5 billion euros in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 — after deducting minority interest — was mainly due to asset impairments totaling around 1.2 billion euros, of which 1 billion euros were undertaken by its Steel Europe division.

Read the full story here.

— April Roach

European markets: Here are the opening calls

European markets are expected to open higher Tuesday.

The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 39 points higher at 8,144, Germany's DAX up 53 points at 19,227, France's CAC up 24 points at 7,298 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 115 points at 34,002, according to data from IG.

Earnings come from Imperial Brands and Thyssenkrupp and finalized euro zone inflation data for October is due.

— Holly Ellyatt

CNBC Pro: 'Top quality asset': Strategist names his top stock to buy in India right now

Indian markets have been under pressure in recent weeks, but strategist Matt Orton remains bullish on the country, revealing "one of his favorite" stocks right now.

"India has been my most overweight country and that still remains the fact outside of the U.S.," the chief market strategist at asset management firm Raymond James Investment Management said, naming a stock that is one of his favorites.

CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.

— Amala Balakrishner

Fed can be 'patient' due to economic strength, CIO says

One reason the postelection rally for stocks appears to have stalled may be that investors are growing less confident in the rate cut path of the Federal Reserve.

According to the CME FedWatch Tool, trading in the fed funds futures market currently implies a 62.1% likelihood of a rate cut in December. That is down from 65.3% a week ago, and 76.8% a month ago.

Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors, said recent signs of continued strength for the economy could lead to the Fed slowing its pace of cuts.

"It is going to call into question how much more they need to cut, and how quickly. I think that's what they've really been hinting at — that they're going to be patient, they're going to be data dependent, and that could mean a slower pace of rate cuts than either their forecasts have suggested or the market was expecting," Baird said.

Baird added that the effect of the election, such as the potential for higher tariffs under President-elect Donald Trump, "exacerbate" those questions about how much the Fed will cut.

— Jesse Pound

CNBC Pro: 'Go for gold' says Goldman Sachs, but other Wall Street banks aren't so sure

Three Wall Street banks have taken differing views on gold's trajectory in 2025, reflecting the complex economic outlook.

Goldman Sachs expects the price of the yellow metal to reach $3,000 per ounce by December 2025, saying "Go For Gold" in a note from Nov. 17.

Others, however, including JPMorgan and UBS, have taken a different view.

CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.

— Ganesh Rao

Copyright CNBC
Contact Us