After another rate rise, European equities grew further as investors pondered the European Central Bank’s (ECB) policy outlook.
After the ECB’s decision, the Stoxx 600 was up 1% in London. This brought total gains since a September low to more than 19% on the verge of a technical bull market.
The ECB announced a 50 basis point increase in interest rates and promised to do so again in March. The Federal Reserve’s policy meeting, during which it slowed the pace of its rate increases and claimed that inflationary forces were waning, left the central bank with no choice. Policymakers, on the other hand, anticipate providing a couple more increases, according to Chair Jerome Powell.
What are some of the sectors in focus?
Technology and real estate outperformed banks and energy while other European sectors struggled. Roche Holding AG is scaling back this year due to a slump in demand for Covid-19 tests and therapies, which it warned would result in losses. Deutsche Bank AG’s quarterly trading results were weaker than expected, causing the stock to fall. Shell Plc increased by 1% after reporting a $9.81 billion profit in the fourth quarter. Moreover, it announced a further $4 billion in share repurchases, and increased its dividend by 15%.
Europe’s stock benchmark has lower natural gas prices, cooling inflation, and a solid economic expansion prospect. It has started the year off in one of its best years ever. Regional equities’ outperformance against US peers, according to strategists, is currently supported by lower valuations. Most likely, it also has the potential to continue.
The Bank of England announced today that if signs of an inflationary spiral remain, it will need to raise interest rates by another half point. The FTSE 100 index was sneaking closer to a new all-time high, up 0.6%.
In the meantime, funds that had stayed out of the rally in European equities are being pushed to get involved this year. Average year-to-date returns for 1,180 active investment funds focused on Europe are just 6.7%.
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