Europe: Shares jump as positive PMI paints rosier picture

[BENGALURU] European shares rose on Friday, their first positive session of the week, as better-than-expected business activity data from the bloc pointed to a likely recovery in 2020.

The pan-European STOXX 600 climbed 0.9 per cent, having crossed a record high earlier in the day. The index had marked four straight sessions of declines amid widespread concerns over a new virus causing economic disruptions in China, one of the bloc's biggest trading partners.

While the HIS Markit's Euro Zone Composite Flash Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came in slightly below expectations, a surprise jump in manufacturing activity brewed some optimism over a return to expansion in 2020.

"With a Phase One trade deal in place, additional no car tariffs for the moment and some certainty about the Brexit timeline, some of the factors holding back manufacturing output have improved," ING economists wrote in a note.

"With manufacturing showing early signs of recovery and the service sector continuing to grow, chances of a recession are receding further. We are expecting growth to very gradually pick up over the course of the year."

Utilities were among the best performing subindexes, with German renewables player RWE leading gains. The utility firm's chief executive, Rolf Martin Schmitz, flagged his possible exit next year.

Technology stocks also rose, with stronger results from US chipmaker Intel Corp bolstering the outlook for the sector.

Germany's DAX saw its best day in more than two months after PMI data showed that the country's private sector gained momentum in January, while a pullback in manufacturing eased.

UK bluechip stocks closed higher after PMI data showed that Britain's services sector returned to growth in January.

Among individual stocks, Bayer was among the biggest boosts to DAX after a report on a possible out-of-court settlement of a US jury trial over allegations that its weed killer Roundup causes cancer.

Swedish telecoms equipment group Ericsson was on track for its worst day in about six months after it reported a smaller-than-expected rise in fourth-quarter core earnings.

Nokian Tyres hit a more than four-year low as the Finnish tyre maker forecast its 2020 sales and operating result to significantly decline from a year earlier due to weak performance in its Russia operations.

Shares of French pharma company Ipsen tumbled to the bottom of the STOXX 600 after it paused dosing in rare bone diseases drug Palovarotene.

REUTERS