(AOF) – European markets are moving slightly higher halfway through a session rich in statistics. The ADP report on employment in the United States will be closely scrutinized by investors who will also monitor the minutes of the Fed’s latest monetary policy committee in the early evening. On the value side, Pluxee is at the top of the SBF 120 index thanks to a first quarter better than expectations. The CAC 40 gained 0.06% to 7,494.18 points while the EuroStoxx 50 increased by 0.24% to 5,024.00 points. American long-term rates are stabilizing.
A Europe,
Shell
(-1.13% to 31.41 euros) recorded one of the biggest drops in the AEX index after its warning on its results for the fourth quarter of 2024. The Anglo-Dutch oil giant anticipates production of liquefied natural gas over this period (LNG) between 6.8 and 7.2 million tonnes compared to 6.9 to 7.5 million previously. For its gas division, its results should be significantly lower than those of the third quarter, “due to the impact (without effect on cash flow) of the hedging contracts expiring”, explains Shell.
A Paris,
Pluxee
(+13.75% to 21.38 euros) peaks at the top of the SBF 120 index thanks to a first quarter above expectations. It leads
Edenred
in its wake: 4.44% to 31.76 euros. The former employee benefits division of Sodexo, which reiterated its objectives for 2025 and 2026, reported a total turnover of 289 million euros over the period, organic growth of 13.2 %. The consensus was for 282 million euros and 10.4%. The company, which was listed on the stock exchange on February 1, 2024, cites “favorable” commercial dynamics.
Vallourec
(+5.65% to 17.96 euros), specialist in premium seamless tubular solutions, posted one of the strongest increases in the SRD market after having reached, one year in advance, its objective of zero net debt. Based on preliminary closing estimates, Vallourec reduced its net debt by just over €240 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. This is the ninth consecutive quarter of deleveraging for Vallourec. The company confirmed that 80% to 100% of cash flow generated in the second half of 2024 will be eligible for return to shareholders. “We are now ready to implement our announced objective of a return to shareholders, with the payment, in 2025, of the first dividend in a decade,” declared its CEO, Philippe Guillemot.
Today’s macroeconomic figures
On a monthly basis, retail sales in Germany fell by 0.6% in November, against a consensus of +0.5% after -0.3% the previous month.
In Germany, industrial orders fell by 5.4% in November while they were expected to fall by 0.3%. They had fallen by 1.5% in October.
Household confidence deteriorated again in December, INSEE indicated this Wednesday. At 89, the indicator which summarizes it drops by one point and remains below its long-term average (100 between January 1987 and December 2024).
In November 2024, France’s trade balance, driven by energy exports, improves (+0.3 billion euros) and stands at -7.3 billion euros, reports the Insee this Wednesday. Over the month, exports increased (+0.6 billion euros) more than imports (+0.3 billion euros). Exports stood at 49.6 billion euros and imports at 56.9 billion euros.
Industrial producer prices increased by 1.6% in the euro area in November compared to October 2024, according to estimates by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, against a consensus of 1.5% . In October 2024, industrial producer prices had increased by 0.4% in the euro zone.
The euro zone business climate index fell to -0.91 points in December compared to -0.78 the previous month. For its part, consumer confidence stood at -14.5 in December as expected after -13.7 the previous month.
In the United States, the ADP survey on private employment in December will be published at 2:15 p.m. before oil stocks at 4:30 p.m. and the report of the latest Fed monetary policy committee at 8:00 p.m.
Around midday, the euro dropped 0.27% to 1.0315 dollars.
