Europe: Shares rise as BP, Volkswagen beat expectations

[LONDON] European shares rose timidly on Tuesday, their second day of gains as earnings from BP and Volkswagen impressed investors and boosted oil and autos stocks.

The leading euro zone stocks index was up 0.4 per cent by 0829 GMT, while Germany's DAX rose 0.3 per cent and Britain's FTSE 100 climbed 0.4 per cent.

US stocks were hit by a report the United States plans to impose tariffs on all Chinese imports if no progress is made at talks between President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

But risk appetite came back slightly in Asian and early European trading after Mr Trump said he expects a "great deal" with China and Beijing made a fresh attempt to stabilise the country's stock markets.

Strong earnings from BP and Volkswagen helped cement the gains. Trading was still laced with anxiety, though, after the past fortnight saw heavy losses across stock markets leaving the pan-European STOXX 600 near a 22-month low.

A beneficiary of higher crude costs, BP jumped 4.3 per cent after the oil major's profits soared to a five-year high.

Its gains boosted the oil & gas sector index up 1.3 per cent, helping lift the market.

Volkswagen topped the DAX with a 4.6 per cent gain after the carmaker's profit topped forecasts - bucking the trend in the autos sector hurt by slower car sales and more stringent anti-emissions regulations.

Autos & parts stocks led gains for a second day, up 1.5 per cent.

Several earnings disappointments weighed, with companies continuing to flag cost pressures and difficulties in the construction sector.

Geberit shares were the worst-performing, falling 9.1 per cent after the Swiss plumbing supplies provider cut its sales outlook and said it was more cautious about the building industry.

Lufthansa shares tumbled 5.1 per cent after the German airline missed profit estimates for the third quarter and said it would raise its number of flights more modestly than peers this season.

Bank stocks were also a weak spot.

BNP Paribas shares were bottom of the CAC 40, down 3.5 per cent after France's biggest-listed bank reported weaker-than-expected third-quarter revenues, blaming its corporate and investment banking arm and its European retail banks.

REUTERS