5. Aug 2026
Description
(AWP Alliance News) - European equities are called to open higher as investors weigh reports of a possible interim deal between the US, Iran, and Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Here is what you need to know before the European market open on Wednesday:
----------
MARKETS
----------
CAC 40: called up 46.8 points, 0.5%, at 8,713.43
DAX 40: called up 186.1 points, 0.7%, at 26,388.45
FTSE 100: called up 35.3 points, 0.3%, at 10,914.68
----------
Hang Seng: up 0.1% at 25,881.20
Nikkei 225: up 3.3% at 66,074.29
S&P/ASX 200: up 0.7% at 9,211.90
----------
DJIA: closed up 907.47 points, 1.7%, at 54,085.88
S&P 500: closed up 136.02 points, 1.8%, at 7,736.52
Nasdaq Composite: closed up 671.10 points, 2.6%, at 26,584.99
----------
US 10-year Treasury yield: 4.61% (4.64%)
US 30-year Treasury yield: 5.16% (5.20%)
----------
EUR: higher at USD1.1540 (USD1.1517)
GBP: higher at USD1.3460 (USD1.3445)
USD: lower at JPY157.40 (JPY157.56)
GOLD: higher at USD4,139.57 per ounce (USD4,078.23)
OIL (Brent): lower at USD78.45 a barrel (USD80.60)
(changes since previous London equities close)
----------
ECONOMIC CALENDAR
----------
10:00 CEST eurozone composite PMI
11:00 CEST eurozone PPI
08:45 CEST France industrial production
09:50 CEST France composite PMI
09:55 CEST Germany composite PMI
09:15 SAST South Africa S&P Global PMI
09:15 CEST Spain composite PMI
09:30 BST UK composite PMI
08:15 EDT US ADP unemployment
09:45 EDT US composite PMI
10:00 EDT US ISM services PMI
10:30 EDT US EIA crude oil stocks
----------
TOP ECONOMIC NEWS
----------
US President Donald Trump said that Iran would be "hit very hard" unless the strategic Strait of Hormuz is reopened "very soon," in an interview with Fox News. "We're having very good discussions," Trump said during a visit to California, insisting that Iran was keen to seal a deal to bring an end to months of conflict. "We're having very good discussions," he said. "The only thing that matters is action. And they want to make a deal. We'll see what happens." Axios reported that the US, Iran and Oman were nearing an interim deal to reopen the strait, which Washington was hoping to announce Wednesday. Axios, citing unnamed regional officials and a US official, said the deal on the table would be a 60-day arrangement for safe passage in the strait between Iran and Oman. That deal - which would not involve the payment of tolls - could then be extended, the report said.
----------
The US and Japan carried out a historic joint intervention to support the yen because the currency's weakness risked hitting other Asian markets, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, likening the situation to the region's late-1990s financial crisis. With regards to "the Asian financial crisis, in my opinion, part of it was triggered by an overly weak yen. So I think a stable yen is not only important for the US, but very important for the entire region", Bessent told CNBC. "If the yen were to weaken substantially, then the other currencies would follow it. We've seen excess volatility in the Korean won. Many people believe that the Chinese renminbi is undervalued," he said.
----------
The Trump administration met with tech leaders to finalise a security review process for advanced artificial intelligence models before their release, though it will apply only to "closed" models, US media reported. However, it remains unclear when - or if - the White House will release the details of the process or how it will be implemented and enforced. According to Axios, the review process will only apply to closed models that are tightly controlled by their developers. Major closed model developers include OpenAI, Anthropic and Alphabet's Google.
----------
China's services sector activity moderated in July, but the outlook remained positive, S&P Global reported. The RatingDog China general composite purchasing managers' index fell to 50.8 points in July from 53.6 in June. A reading above the 50.0-point neutral mark indicates an overall increase in month-on-month business activity, while a reading below signals a contraction. The general services PMI fell to 50.4 points in July from 54.1 in June, missing the 53.7 points consensus forecast cited by FXStreet.
----------
Japan's services sector lost momentum in July, with activity and new orders slowing as cost pressures mounted, S&P Global reported. The S&P Global Japan composite PMI fell to 52.7 points in July from 52.8 in June, below the previously released flash reading of 53.1 points. The services PMI fell to 51.2 points in July from 52.2 in June, also missing the flash reading of 51.9 points.
----------
Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is "essential to ease cost-of-living pressures on British families", UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has said as he headed to Washington to hold talks with his US counterpart Marco Rubio. Ensuring free passage of shipping through the vital Gulf waterway is among the issues the pair are expected to discuss, as well as the Ukraine war and tackling "the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza". Miliband was invited to the US capital by Rubio after their recent first meeting on the sidelines of a foreign ministers' summit in the Philippines, where the senior Labour politician made his international stage debut in his new role.
----------
Australian private sector business activity expanded in July, with the services sector benefitting from a rise in new orders, S&P Global reported. The S&P Global Australia composite PMI rose to 53.2 points in July from 50.4 points in June, surpassing the flash reading of 52.6 points. The services PMI increased to 53.6 points in July from 50.5 points in the previous month, beating the flash reading of 53.0 points.
----------
Australian industrial activity continued to weaken in July, the Australian Industry Group reported. The Australian industry index fell to minus 29.9 points in July on a seasonally adjusted basis from minus 29.7 points June. The reading for June was upwardly revised from minus 30.0 points initially. The index is a measure of activity in Australia's industrial sectors and a positive reading marks an expansion in activity while a negative reading indicates a decline. The performance of manufacturing index declined by 5.7 points to minus 19.6 points, while the performance of construction index decreased by 7.3 points to minus 40.6 points.
----------
COMPANY CALENDAR
----------
4imprint Group PLC - half year results
Ahold Delhaize NV - half year results
AppLovin Corp - half year results
Axon Enterprise Inc - half year results
Banco BPM Spa - half year results
Beazley PLC - half year results
Beiersdorf AG - half year results
CDW Corp - half year results
Cencora Inc - Q3 results
Coca-Cola HBC AG - half year results
Corpay Inc - half year results
Costco Wholesale Corp - monthly sales
CVS Health Corp - half year results
Deutsche Post AG - half year results
DoorDash Inc - half year results
Eli Lilly & Co - half year results
EOG Resources Inc - half year results
Fidelity National Financial Inc - half year results
Glencore PLC - half year results
Global Payments Inc - half year results
Heineken Holding NV - half year results
Hiscox Ltd - half year results
Honda Motor Co Ltd - Q1 results
Ibstock PLC - half year results
Infineon Technologies AG - Q3 results
Insulet Corp - half year results
Kao Corp - half year results
Kraft Heinz Co - half year results
Legal & General Group PLC - half year results
Lowe's Cos Inc - dividend payment date
McKesson Corp - Q1 results
MercadoLibre Inc - half year results
News Corp - full year results
Next PLC - trading statement
Novo Nordisk AS - half year results
Ocean Wilsons Holdings Ltd - AGM
Qiagen NV - half year results
Shiseido Co Ltd - half year results
Shopify Inc - half year results
Siemens Energy AG - Q3 results
Telecom Italia Spa - half year results
Tenaris SA - half year results
Uber Technologies Inc - half year results
Vistry Group PLC - half year results
Vonovia SE - half year results
Walt Disney Co - Q3 results
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc - dividend payment date
Wolters Kluwer NV - half year results
----------
TOP COMPANY NEWS
----------
SpaceX reported better-than-expected second quarter revenue in the first results since its June initial public offer. The Starbase, Texas-based space technology and artificial intelligence company reported a net loss of USD542 million in the quarter ended June 30, narrowed from USD1.01 billion the year prior. Basic and diluted net loss per share amounted to USD0.09 versus USD0.34 a year ago. Revenue increased 92% to USD7.81 billion from USD4.07 billion the year prior ahead of Visible Alpha consensus of USD6.86 billion. Starlink subscribers reached 12.0 million as of the end of the quarter, doubling year-over-year, while maintaining average revenue per user at USD66.
----------
The US Federal Reserve announced it had approved the acquisition of Connecticut-based Webster Bank by Spanish bank Banco Santander, a deal valued at USD12.2 billion. The acquisition is part of Santander's push to expand in the US, where it currently has a footprint in nine states and operates more than USD81 billion in consolidated deposits. Webster Bank has a large footprint in the US northeast, operating consolidated deposits of approximately USD69 billion, according to the US central bank.
----------
Advanced Micro Devices reported stronger second quarter results as Data Center revenue doubled from a year prior. The Santa Clara, California-based chipmaker reported revenue of USD11.54 billion in the three months to June, up 50% from USD7.69 billion a year ago. Net income multiplied to USD2.30 billion from USD872 million. Diluted earnings per share improved to USD1.38 from USD0.54. For the third quarter of 2026, AMD expects revenue of USD13 billion, plus or minus USD300 million, compared to the LSEG consensus estimate of USD12.52 billion.
----------
Booking Holdings reported an improved second quarter backed by solid gross bookings growth. The Norwalk, Connecticut-based travel technology company reported revenue of USD7.35 billion in the three months to June, up 8.1% from USD6.80 billion a year ago. Net income jumped USD1.95 billion from USD895 million a year ago. Diluted net income per share improved to USD2.53 from USD1.10. For the third quarter, Booking expects room nights growth between 3% and 5% and gross bookings growth of 4% to 6%.
----------
Amgen reported an improved second quarter as free cash flow surged 84% to USD3.5 billion. The Thousand Oaks, California-based drugmaker reported revenue of USD10.05 billion in the three months to June, up 9.5% from USD9.18 billion a year ago. Net income climbed 66% to USD2.38 billion from USD1.43 billion. Diluted earnings per share jumped to USD4.37 from USD2.65. For 2026, Amgen expects revenue of USD38.2 billion to USD39.4 billion and EPS of USD15.80 to USD17.08, or USD22.30 to USD23.50 on an adjusted basis.
----------
Gilead Sciences reported improved second quarter revenue driven by its HIV portfolio, leading it to raise 2026 guidance. The Foster City, California-based drugmaker said second quarter revenue rose 10% to USD7.80 billion from USD7.08 billion. Gilead reported a net loss at USD10.50 billion, swung from a net income of USD1.96 billion. Diluted loss per share was USD8.45, swung from USD1.56 earnings per share. Gilead now expects full-year 2026 product sales of USD30.10 billion to USD30.40 billion, compared with previous guidance of USD30.00 billion to USD30.40 billion
----------
Nexgen Energy reported unaudited quarterly results, marking a sharp turnaround to profit in the second quarter from a loss a year ago. The Vancouver, Canada-based uranium exploration and development company which has a strong investor base in Australia swung to a CAD74.5 million net income in the three months to June 30, around USD52.9 million, from a loss of CAD86.7 million a year earlier in the same quarter last year. Nexgen swung to CAD0.11 basic earnings per share from loss per share of CAD0.14, while diluted LPS narrowed to CAD0.02 from CAD0.14. Total assets as at June 30 stood at CAD2.53 billion compared to CAD2.47 billion as at December 31.
----------
Monadelphous said it has been awarded a construction contract by BHP to build a new car dumper. The Perth, Australia-based company providing multidisciplinary construction, maintenance and industrial services said the contract with Melbourne-based diversified miner BHP is valued at around AUD200 million, or approximately USD141.0 million. It relates to the Port Debottlenecking Project 2 located at BHP's Nelson Point port facility in Port Hedland, Western Australia. Work will start immediately with completion expected in 2028.
----------
Pinnacle Investment posted solid full-year growth in financial year 2026 and announced the acquisition of London-based investment manager Asset Value Investors. The Sydney-based multi-affiliate investment manager said attributable net profit after tax jumped 31% to AUD176.7 million in the financial year ended June 30 from AUD134.4 million a year ago. Diluted earnings per share rose 25% to 78.1 Australian cents from 62.4 cents. Pinnacle declared a final dividend of 31 Australian cents per share, bringing the total dividend to 60 cents per share, unchanged from last year. Funds under management as at June 30 was AUD229.4 billion, up 28% from AUD179.4 billion a year ago. Meanwhile, Pinnacle's London-based asset manager Pacific Asset Management agreed to acquire AVI. Selling AVI shareholders will receive AUD25.3 million in cash and the equivalent value of AUD31.9 million in the form of new ordinary shares. A further AUD19.5 million in cash will be payable in 12 months after completion.
----------
By Judy Amaca, Alliance News reporter Asia-Pacific
Comments and questions to newsroom [at] alliancenews.com
Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
