The tensions in Ukraine spoil the party on Wall Street after the best-than-expected quarterly results from Apple and Wall Street. However, US price lists are regaining strength and are helping Europe to recover. At the end Piazza Affari regains momentum and archives + 0,66%, Paris +0,6%, London +0,4%, Madrid +0,3% while Frankfurt closes at +0,05%. The German stock market is more affected by the tensions between Ukraine and Russia despite the good data on the German Ifo index which is better than expected, at 111,2 points from 110,7 in March. Moscow has launched new military exercises on the border with Ukraine, after firefights were recorded in a military operation against pro-Russian insurgents in Sloviansk, a city in eastern Ukraine for two weeks in the hands of pro-Russians.
Wti oil it rose by 0,62% to 102 dollars a barrel and the euro-dollar exchange rate was 1,3826. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones rose by 0,19%, the S&P500 by 0,52% and the Nasdaq by 0,71% in the wake of Apple's leap (+7,48%). Of the 165 companies that have released S&P 500 data to date, 75% beat earnings expectations. The data on orders for durable goods also did well, rising by 2,6% in March, beating analysts' expectations. Net of the transport component, the increase was 2%. However, the Kansas City Fed's manufacturing activity index fell to 7 points in April from 10 the previous month. Last week's unemployment benefit data also disappointed: claims rose by 24 to 329 against expectations of 315. The euro-dollar exchange rate rose by 0,11% to 1,3832 and WTI oil rose by 0,65% to 102,1 dollars a barrel.
The fever for extraordinary operations continues. The American Ge would be interested in the energy activities of the French Alstom which jumps on the Paris list. This was revealed by the newspaper Le Figaro, indicating that these activities, "gas turbines, coal-fired plants, distribution, offshore wind", represent "over 70% of the group's turnover, which exceeds 20 billion euros". The transport branch, which produces TGV high-speed trains among other things, would remain listed as an independent company. Fly Telekom Austria, on the takeover of Carlos Slim.
To support the European price lists and Piazza Affari in the face of tensions in Ukraine, Mario Draghi reassured the intervention of the ECB in the morning. To the malfunctioning of the bank credit markets, Draghi said, the ECB could "adequately respond with a targeted longer-term refinancing operation, or through a program of purchases of securitized assets". “We are witnessing a worsening of the inflation outlook in the medium term – Draghi also explained – which would require a broader asset purchase programme”.
Lo Btp-bund spread is up to 159 basis points. Waiting for Fitch's judgment on Italy's creditworthiness tomorrow, today the CTZ April 2016 auction closed with the placement of all 3,5 billion against a demand of over five billion and slightly rising rates to 0,786% compared to the previous auction. Also today, Spain has placed bonds for 5,57 billion in three, five and ten years with rates that have archived a new low since the introduction of the euro. In Piazza Affari, Saipem stands out +4% after the publication of the data. In the first quarter Saipem recorded profits of 61 million, a decrease of 44% compared to 110 in the same period of 2013, and a turnover of 2,94 billion (-4,7%). New orders did well, rising to 3,949 billion against 2,883 billion in the first quarter of last year. Sale Banco Popolare +3,38%, Cnh Industrial +2,5%, Bper 2%, Gtech +1,8%. At the bottom of the Ftse Mib Azimut -1,8%%, Fiat -1,5%, Mediaset -1%, Telecom Italia -0,9%%.
