Squawk Box Europe Express

The S&P 500 lists its fourth day of losses as Federal Reserve minutes show the central bank is determined to bring rates down. St Louis President James Bullard tells CNBC the Fed is ready to react should inflation refuse to budge. Russian President Putin hosts Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Moscow in a show of deepening ties between the two countries. In Warsaw, Bucharest 9 leaders pledge to shore up NATO’s eastern flank with Sweden and Finland pushing for their speedy accession into the alliance. We hear from Swedish defence minister Pål Jonson who says NATO will benefit from the two Nordic nations’ specific assets and capabilities.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Dow suffers its worst day of the year so far, falling almost 700 points and Treasury yields are at fresh highs. Cautious U.S. retail guidance has increased concerns over consumer demand. In Japan, the central bank buys up more emergency bonds after the 10-year JGB crosses a key limit for the second trading session. Russia withdraws from the landmark START deal with the U.S. sparking fears of nuclear tests being resumed by Moscow. We are live in Warsaw where President Biden pledges unwavering support for Ukraine in a key speech ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion. We are also live in Stockholm where the leaders of Sweden and Finland urge Turkey to approve their countries’ accession to NATO. And in gaming news, Microsoft holds talks with EU officials to approve its planned $69bn acquisition of ‘Call of Duty’ maker Activision Blizzard.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

High interest rates and China’s post-Covid reopening helps to double HSBC’s quarterly pre-tax profit. CEO Noel Quinn tells CNBC that the forecast for 2023 remains positive. U.S. President Joe Biden arrives back in Poland following his surprise trip to Kyiv where he promised President Volodomyr Zelenskyy additional military support and unity in the face of Russian aggression. We are live in Warsaw ahead of the one-year anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. BHP sees profits fall in H1, prompting the miner to cut its dividend. However, CEO Mike Henry is confident Chinese metals demand will pick up as the country reopens.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. and China exchange diplomatic barbs over the weekend during the Munich Security Conference following the shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon earlier this month. Almost one year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg tells CNBC that Beijing will be watching the outcome of the war closely. As EU leaders discuss massive additional military support to Kyiv, we hear from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba who denies allegations of corruption at the top his government.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. producer prices rise more than expected fuelling new inflation fears and sending U.S. indices more than 1 per cent into the red. Asian markets follow suit. The Fed Reserve’s Loretta Mester and James Bullard both call for a return to 50bps hikes in March in a bid to temper inflation. President Biden has pledged to address last week’s spy balloon incident with Chinese President Xi Jinping with U.S. authorities set to hold bilateral talks with their Chinese counterparts at this weekend’s Munich Security Conference. China Renaissance shares fall after it is revealed the boutique advisory company’s CEO Bao Fan is missing amid reports the dealmaker may have fallen foul of Beijing. And in autos news, Tesla will install an upgrade to its self-driving system in 360,000 vehicles over crash concerns.    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Standard Chartered posts a 28 per cent surge in full-year profits and also launches a $1bn share buy-back programme. U.S. consumers brush aside cost concerns with retail sales hitting their highest monthly gain in almost two years. In aviation news, Airbus outperforms expectations with a 16 per cent rise in full-year profits. However, the plane maker remains cautious on delivery targets which remain in line with last year. Tesla agrees to share its charging points with other EVs to boost President Biden’s green federal funding package.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. inflation is down in January but still comes in hotter than expected at 6.4 per cent. Global markets are slightly down with only the Nasdaq posting a positive session. TSMC shares sell off after Berkshire Hathaway cuts its stake in the chip maker by more than 85 per cent while increasing its Apple holdings. In luxury news, LVMH appoints U.S. rapper Pharrell Williams to lead its menswear design arm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Japan’s government confirms Kazuo Ueda as its nominee to lead the BoJ with market analysts anticipating the new governor will keep the country’s monetary policy loose but to scrap yield curve control. We await today’s U.S. CPI data with investors hoping on seeing further signals of inflation easing despite Fed officials remaining hawkish. There are suggestions the EU may swerve recession with attention now focusing on the bloc’s heavy debt load. EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis tells CNBC that the EU’s economy remains robust despite slow growth rates. U.S. and Chinese authorities are reportedly considering a face-to-face meeting at this weekend’s Munich Security Conference amid ongoing spy balloon accusations.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq finish their worst week in more than a month as investors brace themselves for U.S. CPI data out later this week as well as further rate hikes to rein in inflation. The weak sentiment crosses the Pacific with Japan’s Nikkei leading losses. Questions linger over whether prospective BoJ governor nominee Kazuo Ueda would move against the country’s ultra-loose monetary policy. The U.S. Air Force has shot down a fourth flying object in American air space in just eight days – this time over Lake Huron – as Washington moves to blacklist 6 Chinese firms suspected of being linked to the spy balloon downed over the coast of South Carolina. And in sports news, the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Superbowl LVII.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Standard Chartered shares dip sharply in Hong Kong after First Abu Dhabi Bank denies reports it is lining up a $35bn takeover of the Asia-focused UK lender. Inflation data in China comes in below expectations as factory gate prices continue to fall while CPI surges. The proxy fight between Disney and billionaire investor Nelson is now over after CEO Bob Iger announced vast reorganisation and cost-cutting plans at the entertainment giant. The two have now told CNBC that they will now share a joint vision for the company. In luxury news, L’Oréal sees Q4 profits jump by 8 per cent, helped along by strong showings in Europe and the U.S. However, strict Covid restrictions in China slowed growth in the quarter. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have a slew of European corporate earnings. Credit Suisse posts a consecutive net loss of CHF7.29BN for last year. However the outflow of business grabs the headlines with up to CHF111BN leaving the lender. Siemens smashes Q1 forecasts and raises its FY sales and profits guidance. Stateside, Disney stocks are up in after-hours trade after returning CEO Bob Iger announces a raft of reforms, including 7,000 job cuts and $5.5bn in cost-cuts. And Alphabet shares plunge following an error made by its A.I. chatbot in a promotional video clip.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Biden addresses Congress in his State of the Union speech, taking aim at China and big business while hailing his own economic agenda in its role in fighting inflation. The dollar is down and Treasury yields rise following Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s comments that further rate hikes may still be on the table if inflation fails to stabilise. French lender Société Générale posts Q4 net income falling by 35 per cent but still beating expectations. Volkswagen reports a rise in FY sales and profit despite weak deliveries. There is little progress following Inflation Reduction Act talks between French and German economy ministers. WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala tells CNBC she hopes Brussels and Washington can still avoid a trade confrontation.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Softbank posts a fourth consecutive quarter of losses at the investor’s Vision Fund. CEO Masayoshi Son is to miss the earnings call for the fist time ever. French lender BNP Paribas reports a 9 per cent rise in full-year profits but CFO Lars Machenil tells CNBC that the macro environment remains uncertain. Q1 net loss more than doubles at Siemens Energy due to charges at its wind division Gamesa. However CEO Christian Bruch the pipeline is still strong. U.S. President Joe Biden is due to deliver his second State of the Union address and is expected to hail his landmark climate legislation but he is likely to be dogged by questions over his handling of a suspected Chinese spy balloon. And in south-eastern Turkey the death toll continues to rise after the region was hit by two massive earthquakes on Monday morning.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The US shoots down a suspected Chinese spy balloon, drawing an angry response from Beijing as Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancels what would have been the Biden administration's first cabinet visit to China. Wall Street takes a step back after the January jobs report blows past forecasts, but tech stocks still see a five-week rally - the longest run since November 2021. The yen dips as the market digests reports that one of the most dovish candidates, Masayoshi Amamiya, has been sounded out as a potential successor to Haruhiko Kuroda at the head of the BOJ. Adani's stock slide enters a third week, as Adani Enterprises reportedly postpones a bond sale, and Moody's downgrades its outlook on two of the group's companies.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apple posts its first profit miss in seven years as demand for its high-end iPhones drops on production issues and a softer macroeconomic environment. In other tech earnings news, Alphabet flags slower ad revenues, and Amazon struggles on weaker consumer sentiment. Meta surges to one of its best days in almost a decade, pushing the Nasdaq to its highest level since September. Top executive Nicola Mendelsohn tells CNBC the tech giant's strategy shift is paying off. The ECB and BOE both hike rates by 50 basis points, while a change in wording at the Bank of England sparks speculation rates are now at or near the peak. Governor Andrew Bailey tells CNBC it's too soon to be sure. Adani Group losses spiral past $100 billion since late January, as a short-seller's accusations of fraud spark an intensifying crisis at the Indian conglomerate.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have a slew of European corporate earnings this Super Thursday including Deutsche Bank, Roche and Santander, ahead of key central bank decisions. Stateside, the Federal Reserve slows the pace of rate hikes to deliver its smallest increase in a year. Chairman Jerome Powell hints that the central bank will again hike in March despite signs of cooling inflation. We await interest rate decisions from the BoE and the ECB later today as euro zone inflation eases for a third consecutive month.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Struggling tech stocks surge on the Nasdaq, helping the index to its best yearly start since 2001. The S&P 500 also enjoys its best January in four years. The private Caixin survey shows Chinese factory activity shrinking for a sixth consecutive month, which contrasts more optimistic government figures. Snap shares are in the red in extended trade as falling digital advertising spend weighs. Meta shares are also down ahead of its Q4 earnings due out later today. Paris sees huge demonstrations against President Macron’s pension reforms as a number of countries brace for industrial action on Wednesday. The UK will see its biggest mass walkout in 12 years.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Markets in Asia follow Wall Street downwards as cautious investors brace for a slew of tech earnings and central bank moves later this week. Swiss lender UBS posts a 23 per cent surge in Q4 net profit, beating bottom-line expectations. China’s economy swings back to growth as disruption fears following the country’s emergence from strict Covid restrictions fade. The IMF hikes its global economic outlook for the first time in a year with the UK lagging behind among developed economies. Speaking to CNBC, the IMF’s chief economist, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas urges vigilance. And we are live at the annual Baker Hughes meeting in Florence. The company has announced a new exploration partnership with Fortescue Future Industries.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the week-long Chinese Lunar New Year holiday ends and trade restarts, the CSI 300 index nears bull market territory. Renault and Nissan are set to announce the details of their restructured tie-up. Renault is to slash its stake in the Japanese car maker down to 15 per cent. Oil is up on optimism following the end of the Chinese New Year. BP, however, is bearish on the demand outlook and has pared back its long-term guidance. American, Dutch and Japanese authorities are moving closer to a deal which would restrict China’s ability to buy advanced chip technology.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. markets are up following a slew of economic data and Q4 earnings. Tesla helps bump the Nasdaq up by almost 2 per cent. The American economy grows more than expected in the final quarter of 2022 with hopes that the Federal Reserve can attain a ‘soft landing’. President Biden hails the numbers, saying it proves his economic plan is having a positive effect. Russia launches attacks on several Ukrainian cities following Kyiv’s securing of heavy tank deliveries from Western allies. Luxury giant LVMH posts record FY profits for the second year running, welcoming the return of Chinese high-end shoppers.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.