Europe: German shares hit record highs as coronavirus fears ease

[BENGALURU] German shares hit a record high on Tuesday, leading European stocks to a record too amid hopes the coronavirus outbreak may plateau soon and that the impact on the global economy might not be significant as feared.

Deutsche Telekom jumped nearly 4 per cent, driving the rally in Frankfurt's DAX, after the telecom giant's T-Mobile and wireless carrier Sprint got US approval for a merger initially valued at US$26 billion.

Shares in Nordic network equipment makers Nokia and Ericsson also rallied on news of the US approval, helping Europe's technology index end at its highest in more than 18 years.

The DAX closed up 1 per cent at 13,627.84 with gains across the board. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index, which had its highest opening on Tuesday, powered 0.9 per cent higher during the day to set a new closing best.

Globally, sentiment was lifted by the slowing number of new coronavirus cases in China. A top Chinese health adviser's suggestion that the epidemic may plateau in the next few weeks and be over by April further fuelled risk appetite, even as the death toll climbed above 1,000.

Markets have seen several volatile weeks following the news of the virus outbreak as investors worried about the extent of economic disruption.

But the rally feels a little premature, said Craig Erlam, a senior market analyst at Oanda.

"It's more reflective of investors' desire to not miss out on the latest rally, which leaves markets vulnerable to any negative news. Given how rapidly this virus has spread I would say there is more risk for bad news," he said.

Travel company TUI led gains on the Stoxx 600, rising 13 per cent, after it raised the lower end of its annual earnings outlook, citing strong holiday demand.

Overall, the travel and leisure sector rose 1.9 per cent. Worries over travel disruptions caused by the virus had led to a heavy sell-off in the sector over the past few weeks.

Other China-exposed firms such as chipmaker ASML and Hong Kong-focused bank HSBC were among the companies giving the Stoxx 600 index the biggest boost.

Basic resources stocks rose 1.7 per cent on an uptick in iron ore and base metal prices while energy stocks tracked a rebound in oil prices from 13-month lows.

But capping gains were shares of NMC Health, which fell 16 per cent after buyout firm KKR said it did not intend to make an offer for the troubled healthcare company. NMC had shot up 24 per cent on Monday after it revealed KKR's approach.

REUTERS