Asia
Market-moving economic data is light in the Asia-Pacific region today, but investors will be looking ahead to key PMI data on the Chinese manufacturing sector. The performance of Japanese and Chinese equities diverged on Tuesday: a 1% gain in the Nikkei 225 repaired more of the damage sustained in February’s global selloff, driven by exporters. China and Hong Kong, however, saw shares weaker after a bout of profit-taking.
Europe
On a busy day for corporate updates, news of a counterbid from US cable giant Comcast (CMCSA) for Sky (SKY) has lit up the market. The bid, which values Sky at £22.1 billion, threatens Rupert Murdoch’s attempts to take full control of the British broadcaster. Comcast, which is the largest cable company in the US, already owns NBC Universal and intends to make the Sky purchase the “platform for growth in Europe”. Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox was told by UK competition regulators last month that its attempt to take over the rest of Sky it doesn’t already own is not in the interests of media plurality in the UK. Sky shares are up over 20% at £13 in morning trading.
The FTSE 100’s second biggest riser is housebuilder Persimmon (PSN) after full-year results that saw profits close to £1 billion and its payout to shareholders increase substantially. Its chief executive, Jeff Fairburn, has agreed to reduce the scale of his bonus after a public outcry.
Further down the market, shares in under-fire and heavily shorted doorstep lender Provident Financial Group (PFG) were up 71% after a full-year results that confirmed the extent of its annual losses and reports that the company is launching a rights issue. The company’s shares are now worth around £10, compared with £30 just six months ago.
North America
Global investors are keenly awaiting Congressional testimony from new Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell. Of particular interest will be his views on inflation, the cause of the recent global equity wobble.
Durable goods, consumer confidence, the Case Shiller Home Price Index are among today’s economic highlights.
Overnight, Fitbit released results (FIT) that missed market expectations and shares fell nearly 16% in after-hours trading. The fitness tracker company is planning a “mass appeal smartwatch” to gain market share in a very competitive category. Today sees earnings releases from retailer Macy’s (M), as well as Canadian banks.
US stock futures suggest that the main markets will open lower on Tuesday.