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French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch
Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or even individual stocks. BOUYGUES: Amazon announced Bouygues Group & AWS have signed a strategic alliance to accelerate digitalization across Bouygues Group operations. Credit AGRICOle The second largest listed bank in France announced a 27% increase in profits, exceeding quarterly earnings expectations. THALES: Thales Alenia Space - a joint venture between Thales & Leonardo - announced that it had signed a contract for the development of an airlock module by Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in the Emirates. TOTALENERGIES: Lebanon's President expressed his hope that TotalEnergies would resume oil and natural gas exploration off the coast of Lebanon soon. Pan-European market data: European Equities speed guide................... FTSE Eurotop 300 index.............................. DJ STOXX index...................................... Top 10 STOXX sectors........................... Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors...................... Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors..................... Top 25 European pct gainers....................... Top 25 European pct losers........................ Main stock markets: Dow Jones............... Wall Street report ..... Nikkei 225............. Tokyo report............ FTSE 100............... London report........... Xetra DAX............. Frankfurt items......... CAC-40................. Paris items............ World Indices..................................... survey of world bourse outlook......... European Asset Allocation........................ News at a glance: Top News............. Equities.............. Main oil report........... Main currency report.....
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WGC: Gold demand in India will cool by 2025, as prices soar.
The World Gold Council (WGC), which announced the news on Wednesday, said that India's gold demand in 2025 will be lower than last year's nine-year high, due to the price rally to a new record, which is expected to dampen jewellery demand. However, investment demand is likely to rise. Sachin Jain is the CEO of WGC India operations. He said that demand for gold may be between 700 and 800 tons compared to 802.8 tons last year, which was highest since 2015. Jain stated that historically, the first to be affected by rising gold prices are jewellery buyers. If prices continue to rise and remain volatile in this year's market, then jewellery demand could be negatively impacted. On Wednesday, the domestic gold price reached a new record of 84 399 rupees per 10 grams ($968.62). The price of gold has risen by 10% in 2025, after rising 21% in the previous year. Jain explained that "Households who buy jewellery have an established budget and their budget doesn't increase at the rate of the rise in the gold price when they buy jewellery." He said that the gold price surge, which is resulting in higher returns for investors, will continue to boost investment demand in 2025, after it soared 29% in 2020 to a 11-year high. India's gold demand is dominated by jewellery, which accounts for 70% of the total. Jain stated that retail investors are showing increasing interest in digital gold, gold ETFs and gold bars. Reporting by Rajendra J. Jadhav, Editing by Varun K.
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EU advisors propose plan that would reduce corporate green reporting by one third
The European Union has asked a group of experts in sustainable finance to advise them. They have proposed a change to the rules that classify climate-friendly activities. This, they claim, will reduce the reporting burden for companies by one third. The proposal for a simplified green investment rulebook is being made ahead of an extensive review of EU sustainability rules, and at a time when Brussels is preparing plans to reduce red tape in green finance. EU member countries such as France are putting pressure on the EU to simplify the rules for doing business. Meanwhile, the deregulation efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump have caused concern within the EU regarding the competitiveness of the EU. In a Wednesday paper, EU advisers suggested that to boost green investment and reduce burdens on businesses, they should ask for less information from certain companies, introduce flexibility in the use of estimates and proxy values, and take other measures, such as streamlining the EU taxonomy regulations. The EU taxonomy uses a complex classification system to determine which sectors of the economy can be marketed as being sustainable. The firms in scope are required to disclose what investments, lending activities, or shares of their business activities meet this criteria. The "Do No Significant Hurt" criteria is another change that has been proposed. This is a requirement for banks, investors, and companies to meet in order to prove their green investments or activities do not harm the environment. The EU Platform on Sustainable Finance (EU Platform), which was tasked to simplify and improve taxonomy by the European Commission, stated that the suggestions of the expert group, taken together, should reduce the reporting load on non-financial firms by a third. The proposals made on Wednesday only concern the taxonomy and not corporate reporting requirements. The paper stated that the green investments and financial arrangements will have a significant impact on banks and investment firms. It will make it easier for them to report the percentage of their assets which are green.
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Trump or BRICS? Russell: The dilemma for Africa's miner and government:
The world is likely to be splitting in two over the long-term, despite the volatility and uncertainty caused by President Donald Trump's tariffs. After removing Trump's bluster, and his often contradictory behavior, the message appears to be pretty clear. Trump's worldview is that the United States are the only ones who can be trusted. This presents a problem for the mineral-rich countries of Africa, who want to maximize their benefits from their resources but also remain neutral. It's becoming more likely that African countries will be forced to choose whether they want to work with China-led BRICS or the Trump camp. Both scenarios have their risks and rewards, and the specific circumstances of each African nation may lead to a particular outcome. The Investing in African Mining Conference, which took place in Cape Town this week, was largely a discussion about the best way forward for African miners and governments. Minerals are already abundant on the continent, but its untapped reserves will be the prize of the future, especially if energy transitions accelerate. Africa has a rich resource base, estimated at 20% of the global reserves of copper, and about the same amount of manganese, cobalt and platinum group metals. It also contains 36% chromium and reserves of gold, lithium, uranium and rare earths. The development of its mineral resources is often difficult due to political instability, corruption, poor infrastructure and lack of capital. The increasing demand for minerals in the world, particularly to support the energy transition is likely to spark a new race for Africa. This time, Africans will be able to have a greater say on how the situation unfolds. African countries face a challenge in finding the right partners. The West still has a lot to offer, including deep capital reserves and sophisticated equity markets as well as investors with skills and experience in mining. Trump undermines these advantages by threatening to withhold funding and aid, and his flip-flopping policy and habit of turning against traditional allies. Trump's main problem is that he has an apparent transactional worldview, where there must be always a winner and loser. He always wants to win. It will be harder to get a deal with the United States that is mutually beneficial while Trump is president. Not Beggars Gwede Mantashe, South Africa's Minister of Resources, said that Africa should not sell minerals to the United States if Trump reduces aid. If they don't want to give us money then let's stop giving them minerals. Mantashe said at the Mining Indaba conference that we are not beggars. Mantashe stated that "we cannot continue to discuss these minerals on the basis of the dictates from some developed nations, as if we had no aspirations for Africa to industrialise and close its development deficit." The comments made by Trump may have been unwise, as they could serve to antagonise him. However, they might also help the West to think about how to best access Africa's mineral resources. What is the best way for Africa to tap into its mineral wealth if it looks more towards China and other BRICS countries? It has been a mixed experience. China is willing to invest in mines in Africa. However, they prefer to use their own processes and people to do so. They also want to export the raw ore and beneficiate it in China. The benefits of this arrangement have been limited for African countries. However, it may be possible to adopt legislation similar to that in Indonesia to force companies to engage in domestic downstream operations to gain access to raw materials. These are the views of the columnist, who is also an author. (Editing by Kim Coghill).
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Morning bid Europe-Markets confused by Trump's Gaza plan
Wayne Cole gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. First of all, no one knows what to think of Donald Trump's suggestion that the United States should take over the Gaza Strip and transform it into the Riviera for the Middle East, once the Palestinians have been relocated elsewhere. This proposal is not clear. It sounds like the idea that Trump's son in law Jared Kushner floated last summer, saying that Gaza's waterfront could be valuable and Israel should remove civilians while the strip is cleaned up. The oil price has not reacted in a noticeable way. The session in Asia has been chaotic, with share market movements that are not consistent, and the dollar slipping after a fall in Treasury yields. Nasdaq Futures have fallen about 0.5% since Tuesday's Wall Street gains, due to Alphabet's disappointing earnings and its heavy capex spending. After hours, Alphabet's shares fell 7.6%, wiping out $192 billion from its market value. Asia's share markets showed mixed reactions, with some investors relieved that China was restrained in its response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. JPMorgan points out that China's extra levies will apply to products which accounted for only $14 billion in imports last year. Beijing set a fixed rate of 7.1693 per dollar for the yuan when markets returned after the Lunar New Year holiday, addressing concerns that it would allow a sharp depreciation in order to offset the tariff impact. The dollar rose 0.5% against the onshore currency, but this was only to catch up with where the off-shore market was already at and is still far below Monday's record high of 7.3765. The blue chips of China were down just a little, which was a good performance considering they had returned from holiday and were now in the middle of a trade war. The dollar fell 0.6% against the Japanese yen, to 153.33, mainly due to the continued increase in JGB yields, which have reached highs not seen since 2008 The Nikkei lost its early gains due to the rise of the yen. The European stock futures are modestly negative, which is not surprising given that Trump continues to warn about the European Union being in his sights for tariffs without specifying exactly what he wants. The following are key developments that may influence the markets on Wednesday. - PMIs of service for EU, Germany UK and France, EU producer prices, Philip Lane, chief economist at the ECB ADP Employment Report, Treasury Refunding Announcement - Addresses from Federal Reserve Board Governor Michelle Bowman, Vice Chair Philip Jefferson and Fed Presidents Barkin & Goolsbee
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The fuel oil rally is expected to slow down as the market adjusts to US-Iran policies
Fuel oil margins rose after U.S. president Donald Trump reimposed tougher policies on Iran. However, trade sources expect the rally to be short-lived due to an unclear disruption in supply, and weaker China demand, as well as broader tariff worries, weighed on sentiment. As traders have considered various factors and pondered the uncertainty of supply, there has been a volatile movement in the market this year, especially for high-sulfur fuel. A fuel oil trader stated that the recent increase in crack spread or traded margin was more of an emotional reaction. He added that Chinese demand remains a negative factor. According to sources, the Brent crack/HSFO 380cst for Singapore was discounted by about 70 cents per barrel on Wednesday morning. LSEG data shows that cracks were over 80% more expensive than in early 2025, when the discount was greater than $5 a barrel. End-January saw the front-month price reach a multi-year-high. HSFO benchmarks were supported because of the risk of tighter logistic after the U.S. imposed broader Sanctions on Russia. Market sources say that the strength of the dollar will be limited by a weaker demand. China's fuel imports will be affected by a rise in import taxes and a reduction of rebates due to the tax hike this year. Another fuel oil trader stated that the volatility of the market is also due to concerns about broader tariffs. Trump re-instituted Washington's strict policy towards Iran on Tuesday, including his campaign to "maximize pressure" on Iran, which includes efforts to reduce its oil exports to zero. Iranian oil is usually transported by a shadow fleet that hides its activities in order to avoid sanctions. (Reporting and editing by Rashmi aich; Jeslyn lerh)
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Gaza, ravaged by war, faces a multi-billion-dollar reconstruction challenge
Donald Trump, U.S. president, says Gaza could become "the Riviera of the Middle East". Under U.S. Ownership After Palestinians have been permanently relocated elsewhere. According to the United Nations, it will take billions of dollars to rebuild the coastal area after the war between Israel's militant group Hamas and the Palestinian militant Hamas. Here's a breakdown on the destruction caused in Gaza by the conflict that was sparked by the attack by Hamas militants on Israel, who ruled Gaza at the time. How many causalities are there? According to Israeli statistics, the Hamas attack against Israel resulted in 1,200 deaths. Gaza's Health Ministry reports that Israel's response has resulted in the deaths of more than 47,000 Palestinians. How long will it take to clear the rubble? According to a U.N. report released last month, clearing the rubble that was left behind after Israel's bombardment of Gaza could take up to 21 years and cost $1.2 billion. Asbest is suspected to be present in the debris. Some refugee camps that were hit during the war are known to have been constructed with asbestos. It is also possible that human remains are buried in the rubble. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 10,000 bodies may be buried under debris. In January, a UNDP official stated that the conflict had set Gaza's development back 69 years. How many buildings have been destroyed? According to a U.N. Report released last year, it could take decades for Gaza's homes to be rebuilt. According to U.N. satellite (UNOSAT), data from December, two-thirds of Gaza’s pre-war buildings – over 170,000 structures – have been damaged or destroyed. This is approximately 69% of all structures in Gaza. According to UNOSAT, there are 245,123 total housing units. The U.N. humanitarian agency said that over 1.8 millions people in Gaza are currently in need of an emergency shelter. What is the INFRASTRUCTURE DISSERTATION? A U.N./World Bank report estimated that the damage to infrastructure would total $18.5 billion by end-January 2024. This includes residential buildings, commerce and industry, as well as essential services like education, health and energy. A January update from the U.N.'s humanitarian office showed that less than one-quarter of pre-war supplies of water were available. At least 68% the road network was damaged. How will Gaza feed itself? Satellite images analyzed by the United Nations reveal that more than half of Gaza’s agricultural land - crucial to feeding the territory's hungry people - has been damaged by war. The data shows that the Palestinian enclave is suffering from widespread hunger after 15 months of Israeli bombing. Last year, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization reported that nearly half of all sheep and 15,000 cattle had been killed or died in the conflict. WHAT ABOUT SCHOOL, UNIVERSITIES AND RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS? According to Palestinian data, the conflict in Gaza has destroyed over 200 government buildings, 136 universities and schools, 823 Mosques and three churches. The conflict has damaged many hospitals, and only 17 of 36 units were partially functional in January according to the U.N.'s humanitarian office. Amnesty International’s Crisis Evidence Lab has shown the extent of destruction along Gaza’s eastern border. By May 2024, more than 3,500 buildings, or over 90%, had been destroyed or severely damaged. (Updated by Stephen Coates, Edited by Sharon Singleton and William Maclean.
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Governor of Krasnodar says that a drone attack caused a fire at an oil depot in Russia.
The governor of Krasnodar said that a drone attack from Ukraine overnight caused a fire to break out at an oil storage depot in the southern Russian region. 55 firefighters were battling the blaze. In recent days, a series of drone strikes by Ukraine against Russia's energy infrastructure has sparked fires at a major refinery in Volgograd and at the Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant. Veniamin Kodratyev said, "The fire is contained and there are no injuries," on Telegram, as a team of 19 firefighters tried to extinguish flames. Kondratyev didn't specify which depot was burning or the extent of damage. In a Telegram message, the Russian Defence Ministry said that four Ukrainian drones had been destroyed overnight over Russian territory. However, it did not mention Krasnodar in the statement. The Ministry only reports the number of drones destroyed by its air defence system, and not how many drones were launched. Ukraine did not immediately comment. Kyiv claims that its attacks in Russia are meant to destroy infrastructure crucial to Moscow's conflict in Ukraine, and are in response for Russian bombing of Ukraine. (Reporting and editing by Himani Sarkar in Melbourne, Clarence Fernandez, and Lidia Kelly)
NATO chief calls for discussion on limitations for arms provided to Ukraine
NATO primary Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday said the time has come for members of the armed force alliance to reevaluate some of the restrictions connected to the usage of weapons they supplied to Ukraine in assistance of the nation's fight against Russia.
Allies are delivering many different types of military support to Ukraine and a few of them have actually enforced some limitations on using these weapons (...) These are national decisions, Stoltenberg stated in a speech provided in Prague ahead of a NATO foreign ministers' conference.
However I believe that due to how this war has progressed ( ...) the time has concerned consider a few of these constraints, to allow the Ukrainians to actually to protect themselves.
While Ukrainian leaders
prompted
governments from Berlin to Washington to ease the restrictions on supplied weapons, western countries appeared significantly divided in recent weeks on whether the Ukrainian military should be enabled to strike targets on Russian soil.
Some of Ukraine's allies such as Britain, the Baltic states and Denmark have actually argued this is part of legitimate self-defence versus an intrusion, while others have actually said their weapons can just be used in Ukraine, showing worries that striking within Russia would drag the West into the dispute.
The Belgian prime minister this week stated the F-16 fighter jets his country prepared to begin sending to Ukraine this year might just be used within Ukraine's borders.
Germany attached similar caveats to its delivery of heavy armoury, including Leopard tanks.
(source: Reuters)