European stocks edge higher; inflation data, Vodafone in focus

By Peter Nurse 

Investing.com - European stock markets edged higher Tuesday, boosted by some positive inflation data, although Vodafone (LON:VOD) slumped on a disappointing update.

At 03:50 ET (08:50 GMT), the DAX index in Germany traded largely flat, while CAC 40 in France rose 0.3% and the FTSE 100 in the U.K. climbed 0.1%.

Global equity markets have been boosted over the last week by hopes that the Federal Reserve will shortly slow its aggressive monetary tightening campaign as U.S. inflation showed signs of slowing.

Back in Europe, there was also positive inflation news Tuesday, with Spanish consumer prices rising 7.3% year-on-year in October, down from 8.9% in the period through September.

French CPI rose 6.2% on the year in October, substantially below the 7.1% expected, even though it still represents a rise from 5.6% the prior month, while unemployment in France eased back to its lowest in 14 years in the third quarter. 

U.K. unemployment rate edged higher to 3.6% in September, while average earnings rose 5.7% on the month, climbing at the fastest pace in more than 20 years.

Also due for release this session are third-quarter unemployment and growth data from the Eurozone as well as the widely-watched forward looking German ZEW economic sentiment release.

Global investors will also be keeping an eye on the G20 Summit in Indonesia, with the apparent easing of tensions in U.S.-China relations helping the tone.

In the corporate sector, Vodafone stock fell 5.6% after the telecommunications company cut its full-year free cash flow forecast and said earnings would come in towards the bottom of its range.

BAE Systems (LON:BAES) stock rose 3.2% after U.K.'s largest defense contractor reported another strong quarter of orders and raised its full-year profit guidance due to sterling's weakness.

Credit Suisse (SIX:CSGN) stock fell 0.5% after the Swiss lender agreed to sell a significant part of its Securitized Products Group and other related financing businesses to Apollo Global Management (NYSE:APO), as it seeks to restructure its business.

Oil prices edged lower Tuesday, continuing the previous session’s selloff as fresh Covid woes in China weighed on the global demand outlook.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries cut its 2022 global oil demand growth forecast for a fifth time since April, by 100,000 barrels a day, citing mounting economic challenges.

By 03:55 ET, U.S. crude futures traded 0.7% lower at $85.28 a barrel, while the Brent contract traded 0.4% lower at $92.75. Both benchmarks dropped around 3% on Monday.

Additionally, gold futures rose 0.2% to $1,780.25/oz, while EUR/USD traded 0.8% higher at 1.0409.