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European stocks are little changed as Varoufakis visits Germany

4 February 2015 19:26 (UTC+04:00)
European stocks are little changed as Varoufakis visits Germany

By Bloomberg

Stocks in Europe were little changed, after two days of gains, as Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis put his government’s case for bailout changes to European Central Bank President Mario Draghi.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added less than 0.1 percent to 370.43 at 12:45 p.m. in London. Global stocks have erased 2015 losses this week as energy companies jumped amid speculation that crude prices may have found a bottom and as Greece softened its stance on a debt writedown.

“At the moment there are three factors impacting the market sentiment: Greece, the oil market and then the fourth- quarter reports of companies,” said Christian Zogg, who manages the equivalent of about $10 billion as head of equity and fixed income at LLB Asset Management AG in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. “The market in general would like to see some kind of agreement -- that Greece gets more time to pay back.”

Speaking in Frankfurt after meeting Draghi, Varoufakis said they had “very fruitful” talks over the ECB’s support of the Greek banking system. He’ll see German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Thursday.

Greece’s ASE Index has jumped 18 percent since Monday, the biggest three-day gain since 1991, after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said obligations to the ECB and International Monetary Fund would be paid and that he expected a deal with the euro area on new bailout terms.

Greek Advance

The ASE rose 1.3 percent today, reversing earlier losses, while demand for Greek Treasury bills slumped to a more than eight-year low. National Bank of Greece SA, Alpha Bank AE and

Among stocks moving on corporate news, Hugo Boss AG fell 1.1 percent after reporting 2014 sales and profit that missed analyst estimates.

A gauge of energy companies posted the biggest loss of the 19 industry groups on the Stoxx 600. Oil retreated, after the biggest four-day rally since January 2009, before government data forecast to show crude inventories expanded in the U.S. Tullow Oil Plc lost 5.3 percent and Statoil ASA declined 3.3 percent.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG fell 1.2 percent after RBC Capital Markets cut its rating on the airline to the equivalent of sell.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA rose 2.7 percent. Spain’s second-biggest bank swung to a fourth-quarter profit of 689 million euros ($790 million) as returns in its home market improved.

LVMH Rises

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA climbed 5.8 percent. The Paris-based company said it is confident for 2015 after renewed demand for its biggest brand led to better-than-expected growth at its fashion and leather-goods unit and wines, and spirits sales showed improving trends.

Sky Plc gained 2.3 percent. The European pay-TV provider controlled by Rupert Murdoch said first-half revenue rose 17 percent after more customers signed on for its services, and it expanded in Italy and Germany.

Osram Licht AG rose 3.1 percent. The world’s second-biggest lighting company posted better-than-expected earnings as job cuts helped to offset lower profitability at its traditional lighting unit.

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