Europe: Shares rally on cooling energy prices, construction sector gains

[BENGALURU] European stocks marked their best showing since July on Thursday, as easing oil and gas prices offered relief to investors worried about runaway inflation, while positive earnings updates added to the upbeat sentiment.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 1.6 per cent to reverse weekly losses, with buying seen across all sectors. The energy sector gained the least, up 0.2 per cent.

Stock market volatility has spiked in recent weeks on concerns about soaring energy prices spurring inflation and interest rates, debt problems at property developer China Evergrande and risks from tighter monetary policies.

However, oil prices dropped for a second session after an unexpected rise in US crude stocks, and European gas futures fell back from record highs as Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would boost gas supplies to Europe amid an energy crunch.

But strategists at UBS warned Russia's supplies may not have a lasting impact in taming prices.

"Russian gas exports to Europe are already running at elevated levels, and we think it's difficult for Russia to accelerate its shipments further in time for the European winter season," UBS said.

The auto and parts sector jumped 3.2 per cent for its best day in three months.

The automakers-heavy German DAX index logged its best session since May, up 1.9 per cent, shrugging off data that showed the country's industrial output in August dropped the most since April last year.

Also brightening the mood were a reprieve on the US debt ceiling front, after US Senate leaders agreed to extend the borrowing limit into December, and fewer than anticipated jobless claims in the country were recorded.

Sika rose 3 per cent after the Swiss construction chemicals maker said it could overcome rising raw material costs and supply chain restrictions to increase its sales and profit margins this year.

A similar tone from French construction materials company St Gobain and a stock buyback announcement lifted its shares 4.2 per cent.

With third-quarter earnings set to kick off, analysts expect a slowdown in profit growth as a post-pandemic rebound normalises. Profits for Stoxx 600 companies are seen rising 45.6 per cent, compared with a 152.6 per cent surge in the second-quarter, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

French luxury goods maker Hermes jumped 3.7 per cent after HSBC upgraded the stock to "hold", while peers LVMH, Richemont and Kering all rose about 2 per cent.

French car parts maker Valeo climbed 5.9 per cent after a Citigroup upgrade.

Shares of oil major Shell recovered after it warned of a US$400 million hit to third-quarter earnings from damages caused by Hurricane Ida.

REUTERS