Philips jumps on improved tariff outlook
Shares of Philips soared nearly 14% at the market open, after the Dutch consumer healthcare group raised its full-year margin outlook, saying it now expects a hit of 150 to 200 million euros ($230.1 million) from tariffs, down from the 250 to 300 million euros it had previously estimated.
Sales in the second quarter came in at 4.3 billion euros, in-line with expectations.
Philips share price.
— Matt Ward-Perkins, Jenni Reid
Barclays beats Q2 profit estimates
British bank Barclays beat profit expectations and announced a £1 billion ($1.33 billion) share buyback as market volatility boosted investment banking revenues.
Pre-tax profit beat estimates at £2.5 billion ($3.34 billion) in the second quarter, compared with a mean LSEG forecast of £2.23 billion. Group revenues met analyst projections of £7.2 billion.
Read more here.
— Jenni Reid
AstraZeneca posts better-than-expected second quarter results
A view of the AstraZeneca office in Mölndal, Sweden, on September 12, 2024.
Nurphoto | Getty Images
AstraZeneca on Tuesday posted better-than-expected second quarter earnings, driven by demand for key cancers and biopharmaceutical products, and reiterated its commitment to expanding the business in the U.S.
The Anglo-Swedish pharma firm posted revenues of $14.46 billion over the three-month period to June 30, ahead of the $14.07 billion estimated by analysts in an LSEG poll.
Quarterly adjusted core operating profit came in at $4.58 billion versus $4.48 billion anticipated.
The FTSE 100 company maintained its full-year forecast for revenues to rise by a high single-digit percentage, despite geopolitical challenges, and cited its ambitions to grow its U.S. footprint to deliver $80 billion revenue by 2030.
AstraZeneca said last week it plans to invest $50 billion in bolstering its U.S. manufacturing and research capabilities by 2030, becoming the latest pharmaceutical firm to ramp up its stateside spending in the wake of U.S. trade tariffs.
— Karen Gilchrist
Opening calls
Good morning from London.
European stock markets are heading for a higher open today, according to IG data, with major bourses heading for gains of around 0.2%.
On Monday, initial optimism over the EU-U.S. framework trade deal faded by the end of the session to leave the Stoxx 600 index at a 0.23% loss. Investors will continue to hunt for any clarity on the outlook today — particularly as uncertainty remains for sectors including pharmaceuticals, and key products like spirits.
“We see the tentative trade deal with the EU as pretty much completing the run of good trade news that has lifted global confidence and equity markets, and weakened the [U.S. dollar],” Standard Chartered macro strategist Steve Englander said in a Monday note.
“The deals are a negative from a global growth perspective but appear to be something that US trading partners can live with.”
Earnings are also in focus, with British bank Barclays reporting shortly. Results are also out from L’Oréal, AstraZeneca and Ferrovial, along with Boeing, Starbucks, Visa, PayPal and more Stateside.
— Jenni Reid
