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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2018/jul/09/european-markets-to-open-higher-as-trade-fears-fade-business-live
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| European markets open higher as trade fears fade – business live | European markets open higher as trade fears fade – business live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Mothercare shares fell more than 12% in early trading to 25.2p, and are now changing hands at 26.17p. The new shares are being issued at 19p. | |
| On the corporate front, struggling retailer Mothercare has announced details of its restructuring and refinancing package as it fights for survival. It plans to cut 900 jobs, 100 more than previously announced, and put its Children’s World subsidiary into administration. | |
| The move comes after landlords rejected the company’s proposals for rent reductions for Children’s World stores last month. Mothercare will now close a total of 60 out of its 137 stores, 10 more than it said in May. These will be carried out through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), which allows companies to shut loss-making shops and secure rental discounts. | |
| It expects to make annual savings of about £10m following the closures, and also plans to raise £32.5m from existing shareholders through a rights issue. | |
| You can read the full story here. | |
| Last week, German finance minister Olaf Scholz warned that Washington’s decision to impose tariffs on imports from China and the EU would damage everyone. | |
| Donald Trump threatened last month to impose a 20% tariff on imports of all vehicles assembled in the EU. He imposed tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium imported from the EU, Canada and Mexico at the start of June. The EU and Canada hit back with their own levies on US goods. | |
| German trade data this morning show that the country’s trade surplus widened in May – despite Europe’s trade dispute with the US. | |
| Exports rose 1.8% on the month, according to data from the Federal Statistics Office in Berlin, while imports increased 0.7%. This pushed the trade surplus up to €20.3bn in May from €19bn in April – better than expected. | |
| Carsten Brzeski at ING says: | |
| The latest weakening of the euro should bring some relief in the coming months, more than offsetting current US tariffs on European aluminium and steel. | |
| Looking ahead and despite the very benign impact of trade tensions so far, a fully fledged trade war would surely leave negative marks on the German economy. | |
| Markets are hoping for further clues about a tightening to monetary policy when European Central Bank president Mario Draghi speaks at the European parliament in Brussels this afternoon. | |
| CMC’s Madden says: | |
| Traders will be listening carefully to the central banker’s speech as it may give away clues to possible changes to the monetary policy. Last month, the head of the ECB announced the bond-buying scheme would be wound down at the end of the year. Mr Draghi also suggested that interest rates are unlikely to be hiked until at least the back end of 2019. The currency bloc has been going through a mixed economic period, and Mr Draghi’s update could give an insight into what the central banker is thinking. | |
| European markets have risen at the open. | European markets have risen at the open. |
| UK’s FTSE 100 up 0.4% | UK’s FTSE 100 up 0.4% |
| Germany’s Dax up 0.4% | Germany’s Dax up 0.4% |
| France’s CAC up 0.5% | France’s CAC up 0.5% |
| Spain’s Ibex up 0.2% | Spain’s Ibex up 0.2% |
| Italy’s FTSE MiB up 0.5% | Italy’s FTSE MiB up 0.5% |
| Portugal’s PSI 20 up 0.3% | Portugal’s PSI 20 up 0.3% |
| David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets UK, says: | David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets UK, says: |
| The pound is holding up relatively well. This will put severe pressure on Prime Minister May, and there are questions being asked about how long she will last in the top job. | The pound is holding up relatively well. This will put severe pressure on Prime Minister May, and there are questions being asked about how long she will last in the top job. |
| Trade remains in focus globally, with Donald Trump heading to Europe this week for the NATO summit. He has already voiced his opinion that the US pays a large share of the NATO budget. | Trade remains in focus globally, with Donald Trump heading to Europe this week for the NATO summit. He has already voiced his opinion that the US pays a large share of the NATO budget. |
| Madden says: | Madden says: |
| Mr Trump is still playing the ‘America first’ card, and there is a possibility that global trading relations could take a further knock. | Mr Trump is still playing the ‘America first’ card, and there is a possibility that global trading relations could take a further knock. |
| Last week there were signs that the relationship between the EU and the US were improving, after it was reported that the Trump administration is contemplating rowing back on the threat to impose 20% tariffs on EU cars. It was also reported that Angela Merkel is considering throwing her weight behind the proposal of cutting levies on US cars into the EU. | Last week there were signs that the relationship between the EU and the US were improving, after it was reported that the Trump administration is contemplating rowing back on the threat to impose 20% tariffs on EU cars. It was also reported that Angela Merkel is considering throwing her weight behind the proposal of cutting levies on US cars into the EU. |
| The embattled prime minister, Theresa May, is expected to reshuffle her cabinet sometime after 9am following Davis’ resignation. You can read the latest on our politics live blog. | The embattled prime minister, Theresa May, is expected to reshuffle her cabinet sometime after 9am following Davis’ resignation. You can read the latest on our politics live blog. |
| Hussein Sayed, chief market strategist at online forex broker FXTM, says: | Hussein Sayed, chief market strategist at online forex broker FXTM, says: |
| The pound was surprisingly steady after the resignation of the Brexit secretary David Davis. Trading the pound is going to be tricky in the coming days and will depend predominantly on how the negotiations with the EU develop after Davis’ resignation and the survival of Theresa May. However, from Monday’s market reaction, traders seem to believe we’re still heading towards a soft Brexit. | The pound was surprisingly steady after the resignation of the Brexit secretary David Davis. Trading the pound is going to be tricky in the coming days and will depend predominantly on how the negotiations with the EU develop after Davis’ resignation and the survival of Theresa May. However, from Monday’s market reaction, traders seem to believe we’re still heading towards a soft Brexit. |
| Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial market, the eurozone and business. | Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial market, the eurozone and business. |
| The trade war between America and China began on Friday, when both Washington and Beijing imposed 25% tariffs on a number of imports. The US fired the opening salvo, imposing levies on $34bn of Chinese imports, including aerospace, IT and medical kit. China hit back with tariffs on products such as soybeans, chemicals and some cars. | The trade war between America and China began on Friday, when both Washington and Beijing imposed 25% tariffs on a number of imports. The US fired the opening salvo, imposing levies on $34bn of Chinese imports, including aerospace, IT and medical kit. China hit back with tariffs on products such as soybeans, chemicals and some cars. |
| But markets have taken the escalating trade dispute in their stride. | But markets have taken the escalating trade dispute in their stride. |
| European stocks are expected to open higher after Asian stocks rallied overnight. Worries over the trade dispute ebbed away on Friday when non-farm payrolls data showed stronger-than-expected US job growth and steady wage gains, suggesting the Federal Reserve will stick to gradual interest rate increases, and pushing US stocks higher that day. | European stocks are expected to open higher after Asian stocks rallied overnight. Worries over the trade dispute ebbed away on Friday when non-farm payrolls data showed stronger-than-expected US job growth and steady wage gains, suggesting the Federal Reserve will stick to gradual interest rate increases, and pushing US stocks higher that day. |
| The pound wobbled after the shock resignation of UK Brexit secretary David Davis and Brexit ministers Steven Baker and Suella Braverman. Sterling weakened to $1.3328 when the news broke, but has since recovered and hit its highest level since 14 June this morning. It’s now trading 0.2% higher at $1.3321. Against the euro, it has been steady at 88.38p. | The pound wobbled after the shock resignation of UK Brexit secretary David Davis and Brexit ministers Steven Baker and Suella Braverman. Sterling weakened to $1.3328 when the news broke, but has since recovered and hit its highest level since 14 June this morning. It’s now trading 0.2% higher at $1.3321. Against the euro, it has been steady at 88.38p. |
| Central bankers including Bank of England deputy governor Ben Broadbent and European Central Bank president Mario Draghi are due to speak today. | |
| Also coming up | |
| 8.50am BST BOE deputy governor Ben Broadbent gives opening address at BOE conference | 8.50am BST BOE deputy governor Ben Broadbent gives opening address at BOE conference |
| 2pm BST ECB president Mario Draghi speaks at the European Parliament in Brussels | 2pm BST ECB president Mario Draghi speaks at the European Parliament in Brussels |
| We’ll be tracking all the main events throughout the day... |