Germany

According to LSEG's forecasts, published Thursday to coincide with the start of reporting season, a surge in energy sector profits will help European blue-chip companies to post their highest earnings growth in more than three years. LSEG IBES data predicts that companies in Europe's benchmark STOXX 600 index will report earnings growth of 16.7% during the second quarter. This is based on?results from 28 companies, and market estimates for those whose results are not yet in. The rate of growth excluding energy companies is a modest 6.4%. The European energy'majors' are reportedly?posting profits that are more than 125% greater year-on-year....

The U.N. Human Rights Council decided on Tuesday to hold an emergency debate on the situation 'in Sudan's al-Obeid' later this week. Britain's envoy warned of the 'risk of mass atrocities' The request was made after reports that Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies were massing forces in the area of al-Obeid, which could lead to an escalation in the conflict. Human Rights Ambassador of Britain,?Eleanor Sanders, described the "siege-like" conditions that thousands are trapped in and isolated from humanitarian aid due to increasing drone strikes. She told the Geneva-based Council that "up to 500,000 civilians now...

Investors flock to companies that are driving the AI boom, including gas engine manufacturer Innio. Innio, based in Munich, Germany, has a principal?shareholder - AI Alpine. The company is co-owned by Advent International, and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. 90 million shares were sold at $27 per share, the highest price of the range indicated by the company. The listing comes against a favorable ?backdrop for AI infrastructure-linked firms, with investors flocking to companies powering the technology's buildout, from electrification ?to supply chain for data centers. Innio will be one of several companies, ranging from software to insurance, that list in...

VCI, the German chemicals lobby, said on Friday that the first-quarter production, sales, and prices all fell. The sector is also facing a lack of optimism due to the 'increase in energy, raw materials, and transportation costs linked to the Iran war. Chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, saw a 6% decline in production figures for the quarter. VCI reported that producer prices dropped by 1%, and sales fell 5.4% compared to a year earlier. Third-largest industrial sector in Europe's economic powerhouse, Germany, can be seen to be a barometer for the region's economy. It produces components that are used across industries ranging...

Two sources familiar with the investigation said that the Brazilian federal police had targeted the former governor of Rio de Janeiro, Claudio Castro, and the owner Refit Refinery Ricardo Magro as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion. Castro and Magro did not immediately respond to a request for comment from. The police, without naming any suspects, said that they had launched an investigation into a conglomerate in the fuel industry suspected of concealing assets, faking assets and transferring money abroad. According to a statement, the Supreme Court ordered that assets worth approximately 52 billion Reis ($10.4 Billion) be...

Brenntag, a German chemical distributor, posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday. Price increases and cost reductions helped, but the company warned of higher crude costs due to Middle East conflict in the months ahead. The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has affected the global fuel and feedstock markets and driven up prices in the energy-intensive chemicals industry. Thomas Reisten, CFO of the company, said on a conference call with analysts and reporters that the higher costs for fuel and transportation due to the tensions in the Middle East were being passed onto customers via surcharges and increased prices....

European shares fell on 'Thursday, after a steep rise?in the prior session. Investors analyzed?progress toward a U.S. Iran peace deal which pushed crude oil prices sharply down. STOXX 600, the pan-European index of stocks, ended up 1.1% lower than it was on Wednesday after gaining more than 2%. The majority of regional bourses in France, Germany, and Britain also declined. European energy stocks fell 2.5% when crude oil dropped below $100 per barrel. Shell fell 2.9%, despite exceeding first-quarter profits estimates and increasing its dividend by 5%. Sources and officials reported that oil prices were under pressure when?the U.S. &...

Lanxess predicts that oil prices will remain high for the next few months, and warns that the soaring energy costs are likely to continue to impact the chemical sector after the Middle East conflict disrupted the fuel and feedstock market. CEO Matthias Zachert stated that the company expects oil prices to stay in the $100 to $110 range per barrel for the next few months. He added that Lanxess would pass on the higher costs by increasing the price. He also said that the pressure of Chinese competition in Europe is starting to?ease as higher energy prices?hit Asia more than?Europe....

Lanxess reported on Thursday a'muted' quarterly core profit, which was? broadly?in line with the market expectations. However, it said that March saw a slight improvement as customers began to turn to European chemical manufacturers to avoid any supply risks. The German specialty chemicals company stated that "a persistently weak economy, geopolitical uncertainty and last year's divestments" characterized the first quarter of 2026. It said that cheaper raw materials and pressure from?Asia on prices in certain segments also drove down selling prices. Since March, we've seen a slight improvement in the momentum. Due to the Middle East conflict, many Asian competitors'...

The Chambers of Commerce said that German exports will stagnate in this year. They lowered their previous forecasts for a slight increase as the companies in Europe's biggest economy are facing?supply-chain snarls, and uncertainty due to the Iran War. The German Chambers of Industry and Commerce had previously predicted a 1.0% rise in exports of both goods and services. Volker Treier is the head of DIHK's foreign trade. In a survey conducted by DIHK, 4500 German companies that operate abroad reported that high energy prices are a major business risk. This is more than twice the number of respondents in...

A survey on Tuesday showed that German companies operating abroad are more 'pessimistic' about their prospects. Nearly one-third of respondents expect economic conditions to worsen as the Iran War exposes vulnerabilities in global supply chains. In a survey conducted by the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) of 4,500 companies, 32% of respondents expected that the situation in their foreign locations would worsen?in 12 months. This is an 8-point increase from the last AHK World Business Outlook Survey conducted before U.S. and Israeli?airstrikes against Iran at the end February sparked a Middle Eastern war. According to the survey, the?disruption'...

BASF reported on Thursday that its quarterly adjusted operating profits had declined 5.6%. It cited 'negative currency effects and 'competitive pressures.?It also added that the impact of the Iran War was uncertain. BASF reported that its first-quarter earnings were 2.36 billion euros ($2.75 billion), after adjusting for special items. This was a decline from the 2.19 billion euro average analyst estimate. The German chemical company reaffirmed that the adjusted EBITDA is likely to reach?6.2-7.0 billion this year compared with 6.6?billion in 2025. The company also projected a Brent crude oil average price of $65 per barrel in 2026. This was...

Oliver Blume, the head of Volkswagen, is planning a historic overhaul to adapt to structural changes in the global automotive market. Rising Chinese competitors, tariffs, and weak demand for cars in Europe are all affecting its business model. The crisis has increased scrutiny on Europe's largest automaker. It has been struggling for years with a complex structural design, a weak share performance, and some stakeholders' resistance to painful costs cuts. PARALYSED CONGLOMERATED Volkswagen's "governance" and "structure and ownership" are unique to the auto industry. They combine powerful unions and the billionaire Porsche-Piech family, who control the majority of the voting...

Labor?office data showed on?Tuesday that the number of unemployed in Germany dropped unexpectedly?in June. According to a recent poll, analysts and economists predicted a rise of 7,000. The total adjusted number of unemployed people dropped to 2.984 millions, below the '3 million mark. In June, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at?6.3%. This is unchanged from previous months. In a recent statement, the head of the Labour Office, Andrea Nahles, said that there was little evidence of change on the labour market. The unemployment rate is only marginally decreasing, while the employment that is subject to Social Security contributions continues...

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume’s plan to close German factories and 'cut up to 100,000 jobs' is more than just a cost-saving measure. It could also be an attempt to change a corporate structure that has held back progress for years. Sources say that Europe's largest?automaker? is considering its biggest-ever restructuring. This includes doubling the planned job cuts, and closing four German factories. It does this to combat tariffs, rising costs, and increasing competition from Asia. The company is also considering plans to separate passenger cars and parts into separate divisions. This could be a test of the limits of the...

Thyssenkrupp announced on Tuesday that it plans to spin-off its Materials Trading division, which accounts for almost a third in the total sales of the German conglomerate. This announcement has been reported by and is part of the company's ongoing efforts to "turn itself into a holding company". The company has divested its hydrogen and marine divisions through individual stock listings in the past. Thyssenkrupp shareholders will vote on the issue of spinning off 49% in an extraordinary shareholder meeting scheduled for August 7. Jefferies analysts estimate that the segment has an enterprise value of EUR3.6 billion ($4.2 billion). Around...

Singapore is establishing an over-the counter gold clearing system and introducing central bank gold vaulting services. This comes as the city state looks to establish itself as a gold trading hub. Gan Kim Yong, the Deputy Prime Minister, told the Asia-Pacific Precious Metals conference on Monday that the Singapore Exchange will?establish a gold clearing system over-the-counter for Loco Singapore or physical gold in Singapore by the end this year. He said that six banks will be clearing members: DBS, Deutsche Bank ICBC Standard Bank J.P. Morgan OCBC, UOB. Gan stated that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will offer central...

At a Wednesday briefing, a German government official said that a window of 'dialogue' is opening slowly between Russia and Europe on Ukraine. However, it will likely be months before any talks can begin. The official who requested anonymity said that it was important to create a dialogue format that Europeans would perceive as legitimate. The official also said that it was unclear who would lead these talks. However, there were strong indications that the E3 Group (Germany, France, and Britain) will continue to play a significant role in this regard. The Russian advance has slowed down this year. Ukrainian...

The Finnish?elevator manufacturer Kone announced on Wednesday that its shareholders had approved the planned $34 billion purchase of German rival TK Elevator. This will create the largest lift group in the world. LSEG data shows that the deal announced with Advent International and Cinven in April is one of Europe's?"biggest takeovers" in recent years, and it is also the largest private equity sale in Europe since records began in 1980. Kone said shareholders who controlled 74% of the voting power pre-committed themselves to support the deal. After the shareholders meeting, CEO Philippe Delorme spoke at a press briefing. "Now we...

European space stocks rose?on Thursday?after Elon Musk filed for a listing on the stock market. This raised hopes that a historic debut could boost valuations throughout the sector. Eutelsat, the French satellite operator, rose by 20% and reached its highest level in over a year. German satellite manufacturer OHB rose 15%, while Luxembourg-based SES gained 3.7%. SpaceX would become the first U.S. company to list at its reported valuation if the listing is completed. Market debut initial public offerings worth more than $1 trillion. "I do not think that there will be a capital flight. IPOs of large size are...

Arafura Rare Earths announced on Thursday that it has approved the development of its $1.6 billion Nolans Project in the 'Australian Northern Territory', which will 'become 'the third-largest rare earths operations of the country by the end of this decade. The project is designed to deliver 4,440 metric tons of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide annually, targeting markets outside China amid growing demand for rare earths used in electric vehicles and wind turbines. Arafura has secured financing commitments with the export credit agencies in the United States, Canada and Germany, as well as global trading houses and manufacturers. This is because Western...

The European Union reached a provisional agreement with Washington on Wednesday regarding legislation that would remove import duties from U.S. products. This is a crucial part of the trade deal signed in July. It will likely prevent higher U.S. Tariffs on EU Products. According to the agreement reached at?U.S. Under the deal struck at?U.S. After nearly 10 months, the European Parliament, which represents the EU government, and the Council, an EU-wide body, have agreed on a text that will allow EU duty reductions into effect. After five hours of negotiation, they agreed on strengthened provisions that would suspend concessions if...

Thoma Bravo may sell its stake in construction software maker Command Alkon as it tries to maximize returns on software that is seen to be more resistant to broader AI disruption risk, according to four sources familiar with the matter. Thoma Bravo is working with Evercore's investment bankers to sell its 55 percent stake in Command Alkon. Other private equity firms have expressed interest in the last few weeks. Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity about the private discussions said that Command Alkon could be valued at over $1.5 billion. Thoma Bravo refused to comment while Heidelberg Materials Evercore...

The shares of German automakers fell on Monday after President Donald Trump decided to increase U.S. tariffs on imported European vehicles to a 25% levy from the previously agreed 15% levy, dealing 'a 'fresh blow to an already battered industry. As of 1046 GMT the pan-European auto and parts index had fallen 2.3%, while shares for Porsche, BMW Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen all fell between 2% and 3%. Trump claimed on Friday that Brussels had failed to comply with an agreement reached between Washington DC and Brussels in 2017 that reduced U.S. tariffs on automobile imports by 15%. The implementation by...