Le European stock markets close in deep red weighed down by the declines of Wall StreetIn the United States, the report by Challenger, Gray & Christmas highlights a record increase in layoffs In January, new hires remained low, fueling concerns ahead of the employment report. Additionally, jobless claims rose by 22 to 231, compared to expectations of 212.
Meanwhile in Europe, as widely expected, the European Central Bank ha left rates unchanged: the deposit rate remains at 2%, maintaining caution on the economic outlook. Also the Bank of England confirmed il 3,75% reference rate, with an internal split of 5-4: four members would have preferred a cut to 3,5%.
On Wall Street the tech sector remains under pressure: A (Google) slips despite exceeding estimates, penalized by massive investments in artificial intelligence, while Qualcomm It suffers from a weak outlook linked to the shortage of memory chips. In addition to the latest jobs data, the continued declines in silver and bitcoin are also weighing on the market, demonstrating a "risk-off" phase.
Returning to the quarterly results, in Europe, the Spanish bbva posted net profit up 4,5% in the fourth quarter, while BNP Paribas It has revised its 2028 profitability target upwards, promising further cost cuts. In Copenhagen Maersk collapses after the announcement of a 15% cut in employees and disappointing 2026 estimates, while in Stockholm Volvo Cars records a collapse, with 2025 accounts significantly below expectations. Also noteworthy is the announcement of Rio Tinto which closed the door to any merger agreement with Glencore (in free fall in London) that would have led to the birth of a minerals giant.
Read EVEN Precious metals crash: gold and silver lose ground di G. Bruschi
A Business Square, which closed the session down 1,75%, Stellantis loses more than 5% due to delays in new models, closely followed by the big banks, with Unicredit and Intesa which show losses of around 4%. It is saved B for Bank, which remains above par after recording a net profit of 2,1 billion euros in 2025, consolidating the positive results of the second half of Banca Popolare di Sondrio. Instead, it follows the negative sentiment Ps After the shareholders' meeting approved the changes to the bylaws, including the Board of Directors' list, pending approval from the ECB.
In the spotlight Poste Italiane, what a second Milan Finance-MF owns over 106 million Telecom Italia savings shares, among the few rising stocks, and will receive approximately 13 million euros in cash plus ordinary shares, for a value of more than 60 million euros.
Out of the FTSE Ovs rises after the publication of the 2025 accounts, with growing sales and an EBITDA estimated between 216 and 218 million (+11%) and the halt to the acquisition of Kasanova.
Lo spread between BTPs and Bunds rises to 63 points, with the yield on the Italian 10-year bond at 3,49%.
Il dollar The euro is trading below 1,18 against the greenback. The decline continues. Bitcoin, below $70, the lowest since November 2024.
Precious metals are volatile: the spot falls to $4.919,48 an ounce, while thesilver loses 10% and falls back below $80.
