-- 受美伊可能達成協議結束戰爭的跡象提振,倫敦富時100指數週三收盤上漲2.15%,同時,英國私部門的擴張速度加快。 「川普宣布暫時中止在霍爾木茲海峽進行的『自由計畫』海軍行動,這表明局勢可能緩和。消息公佈後,油價下跌,並在隔夜繼續走低,原因是市場預期川普暗示的與伊朗達成和平協議的進展。鑑於北京與德黑蘭的密切關係以及中國經濟對通過霍爾木茲海峽運輸石油的依賴,川普即將訪問中國進一步增加了川普局勢的複雜性。 在英國國內,標普全球數據顯示,英國4月私部門產出成長加速,顯示製造業生產和服務業活動溫和成長。經季節性調整的標普全球英國採購經理人指數(PMI)綜合產出指數從3月的50.3升至52.6。初步預測為52。 「這種改善很可能只是曇花一現,因為與2026年初相比,新業務成長依然疲軟,」標普全球市場情報經濟總監提姆摩爾表示。 “調查受訪者普遍指出,中東衝突及其引發的全球供應鏈中斷嚴重打擊了企業和消費者的信心。” 在公司新聞方面,酒類公司帝亞吉歐(DGE.L)股價上漲6.34%,此前該公司確認了2026財年業績指引,並公佈截至3月31日的第三財季淨銷售額同比增長2.3%,達到44.8億美元。 「儘管烈酒市場環境依然充滿挑戰,尤其是在美國,但我們認為,帝亞吉歐的全新策略和增加的再投資應該能夠支持其中期成長加速,」美國銀行全球研究部表示。 “美國市場仍然是主要阻力,復甦的時機和速度尚不明朗,但集團其他業務表現穩健。我們認為,加速去槓桿化將帶來進一步的上漲空間。” 另一方面,醫療器械製造商史密斯醫療(Smith & Nephew,股票代碼:SN.L)股價下跌3.58%,此前該公司宣布啟動5億美元的股票回購計劃,維持2026年全年業績展望,並公佈第一季營收從14.1億美元增長至15億美元。 「我們預計,第一季營收符合預期以及5億美元的股票回購計畫將逐步提振投資人信心。然而,我們認為這些業績目前尚不足以大幅降低2026年業績指引的風險,我們仍然認為未來業績指引存在下行風險,」加拿大皇家銀行資本市場表示。
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Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Mixed Wednesday Afternoon
Health care stocks were mixed Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index increasing 0.1% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) shedding 0.1%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed 1.8%.In corporate news, CVS Health (CVS) raised its full-year earnings outlook after reporting better-than-expected Q1 results driven by improvement in its health-care benefits segment. Its shares gained 6.8%.Novo Nordisk (NVO) expects generic versions of its Ozempic medication to face approval delays in China until next year, Bloomberg reported, citing the drugmaker. The patent for semaglutide, the main ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, expired in China in March, but the company said it still has regulatory data protection until April 2027 due to a trade agreement between China and Switzerland, Bloomberg reported. Novo shares rose 2.5%.Eli Lilly (LLY) is looking to raise about $8 billion from an investment-grade bond sale to fund an acquisition spree, Bloomberg reported. Lilly shares added 0.3%.
Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Mixed in Afternoon Trading
Consumer stocks were mixed Wednesday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) decreasing 0.1% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) rising 1.5%.In corporate news, Walt Disney's (DIS) fiscal Q2 results came in ahead of market estimates amid revenue gains across all business operations, while the media and entertainment giant reiterated its expectations for growth to accelerate in H2. Its shares climbed 6.6%.Uber (UBER) on Wednesday issued a bookings growth outlook that surpassed Wall Street's estimates, while the ride-hailing company's Q1 profit grew year-on-year. Uber shares popped 7.5%.Sony Group's (SONY) Sony Music is nearing a deal to acquire a music catalog including works by artists such as Justin Bieber and Neil Young from Blackstone (BX), Bloomberg reported. Sony is in discussions to acquire Recognition Music through a joint venture with Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC, which will pay from $3.5 billion to $4 billion, the report said. Sony Group shares added 2.9%.
US Natural Gas Update: Futures Drop in Line with Crude on Middle East Peace Progress
US natural gas futures declined on Wednesday, tracking declines in crude as energy markets reacted to reports that Iran is reviewing a US-backed peace proposal that could ease tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and restore critical global shipping flows.The front-month Henry Hub contract and the continuous benchmark both fell 2.33% to $2.724 per million British thermal units.Analysts said the move largely followed the drop in oil prices alongside subdued near-term weather-driven demand."This market appears to be seeing spillover from the huge decline in oil pricing, and with the weather factor offering little support," Ritterbusch & Associates said in a note cited by the Wall Street Journal.The Strait of Hormuz remains a key geopolitical focal point, with any de-escalation seen as potentially restoring stable flows of liquefied natural gas to Asian buyers, who account for a large share of global LNG demand.On the domestic side, US fundamentals remain broadly stable. Production is forecast to hold near 107.3 billion cubic feet per day, roughly in line with recent levels and slightly above April averages, NRG Energy said.Demand trends were mixed. According to Aegis Hedging, residential and commercial consumption rose by 2.5 Bcf/d, offsetting a 1.4 Bcf/d decline in power burn demand.Looking ahead, weather models show short-term cooling across the Midwest before a shift to above-normal temperatures in western regions next week, which could support cooling demand later in the month. Ritterbusch said it still sees upside risk for prices over the next one to two months if hotter weather materializes.Storage expectations remain in focus ahead of Thursday's government report. NRG Energy said it expects a 70 Bcf injection for the week ending May 1, below both last year's build and the five-year average. Even so, inventories are projected to remain about 7% above the seasonal norm.Liquefied natural gas export demand is currently subdued, with feedgas flows forecast around 17 Bcf/d, NRG said. Lower volumes at the Corpus Christi and Cameron facilities due to maintenance are weighing on exports, limiting near-term support for prices.