European earnings season will kick into high gear in the coming weeks, with analysts predicting a 26.3 per cent drop in fourth-quarter profit for companies listed on the STOXX 600, as per Refinitiv I/B/E/S estimates. — Reuters pic
The German DAX rose 0.4 per cent, boosted by a 4.8 per cent jump in Adidas, while UK’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.2 per cent and France’s CAC 40 rose just 0.1 per cent. “Given how far stocks have come since the end of October some hesitancy about the next steps is understandable — much of the good news that may be imparted by earnings season has already been factored in,” Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said in a note.
Attention is especially focused on the 321-seat Senate, where Conte looks certain to fall short of an absolute majority.