Squawk Box Europe Express

The Dow hits a record 38,000 points for the first time as major U.S. indices finish in the green for a second consecutive session ahead of a number of corporate earnings this week. The Nikkei follows suit in Japan – its highest level since 1990 - after the BoJ maintains its ultra-loose monetary policy. It has, however, cut its FY 2024 guidance. Israel has offered a two-month ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza in exchange for the release of 130 hostages. Hamas has demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from the Strip. And in Hong Kong, shares are surging after Chinese authorities consider a trillion-yuan rescue package for the country’s declining stock market.    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 in the green with the S&P 500 surging to a new record high on the back of positive consumer data. In U.S. politics, Florida governor Ron DeSantis bows out of the race to become the GOP presidential candidate two days before the New Hampshire primary, endorsing former president Donald Trump. Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley is now Trump’s sole challenger for the nomination. United Airlines cancels all flights using Boeing’s troubled 737 Max 9 model. Meanwhile, the FAA has urged all carriers to carry out door plug checks on yet another Boeing model – the 900ER. And in Europe, cities across Germany see a second week of mass protest against an AfD ‘re-migration’ policy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are live in Davos where Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba tells CNBC he feels reassured by the Biden administration’s commitment to military aid for his country and that the tone of discussions remains constant. U.S. jobless claims hit a 16-month low while U.S. Tech stocks fuel a rebound on Wall Street. The Dow and the S&P 500, however, are set for their second negative week in three. In the Red Sea, Houthi rebels hit a U.S. owned commercial vessel just hours after President Joe Boden talks down the effectiveness of strikes on Yemen. KSA finance minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan tells this channel his country is desperate to de-escalate tensions in the region. Former BoE governor Mark Carney claims that whatever the result of the U.S. elections this November, the President will be faced with a rapidly transforming energy and intelligence scenario. In Washington, U.S. lawmakers manage to avert a partial government shutdown until March passing a stop-gap bill. And in M&A news, online community

European equities react negatively following hawkish comments from ECB President Christine Lagarde who warns not to expect interest rate cuts until the summer. In Davos we hear from outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte who says centrist parties in Europe must be clearer on tough issues in the face of populist party challenges. We also speak to UK Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves who is positioning Labour as a pro-business party, with no plans to increase income tax. French President Emmanuel Macron issues a rallying cry for the EU project but bemoans the bloc’s fragmentation. Tech giant Apple will remove a blood oxygen feature from Apple watches after an appeals court reinstates a U.S. sales ban following an I.P. dispute with med-tech firm Masimo.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

China manages to attain its FY GDP targets, however its weak property sector and a fourth quarter miss drags on Asian equities. In Davos, we hear from Polish President Andrzej Duda who says he is not surprised that Ukraine refuses face-to-face talks with Moscow and warns military spending must increase in order to ward off Russian aggression in Europe. The U.S. launches fresh strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen while the Iranian foreign minister tells CNBC that America is the root cause of the current tensions in the Middle East and Red Sea. Google CEO Ruth Porat says A.I. is the ‘great equaliser’, with the potential to help both the developed and developing world in areas of healthcare and food security. The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield tops 4 per cent after the Fed’s Christopher Waller calls for a more cautious approach to rate cuts later this year.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump wins a resounding victory in the Iowa caucus, solidifying his position as the GOP presidential frontrunner. Florida governor Ron DeSantis pips Nikki Haley to second place while Vivek Ramaswamy bows out of the race. We are live in Davos at the World Economic Forum where ECB board member Robert Holzmann tells CNBC exclusively that the central bank may not cut interest rates at all this year. Holzmann warned those expecting cuts may be ‘deeply disappointed’. Meanwhile, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva says she expects a soft landing for the global economy but that central banks are still exposed to risk this year. In the Gulf of Aden, Houthi rebels hit a U.S. owned commercial ship following last week’s U.S. and UK airstrikes. And in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng leads declines while the Dow is likely to open 100 points lower following the MLK Day long weekend.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priv

Taiwan’s incumbent Democratic Progressive Party win a historic third term in office with incoming president Lai Ching-te resisting pressure for reunification with China. The Nikkei rallies to breach 36,000 points for the first time in almost 34 years while Wall Street posts its tenth week in the green out of eleven. U.S. banks kick off earnings season. JPMorgan and Bank of America both see a drop in profits while Citi also posts losses for the quarter. Former U.S. president Donald Trump leads GOP rival Nikki Haley by 28 points in the final NBC poll ahead of today’s Iowa caucus. And we are live in Davos, Switzerland where Ukraine peace talks have ended with scant progress, with the Russian contingent once again absent. We hear from the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, who says the current administration will never accept a frozen conflict.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Crude prices surge following U.S. and UK strikes on Houthis targets in western Yemen in response to continued attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. In the U.S., CPI data comes in higher than expected. The Dow reaches a new intra-day high before closing the session flat. Chinese export data is up by more than expected for December but deflationary pressures persist with consumer prices falling for their longest streak since 2009. Airbus maintains its lead over Boeing for the fifth straight year. CEO Christian Scherer hails the ‘remarkable’ demand for its planes. And we are live in Taipei ahead of Saturday’s presidential election which is seen as pivotal in shaping Chinese-Western relations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s a monumental day for crypto with the SEC finally approving spot Bitcoin ETFs. Up to 11 funds are due to start trading as soon as today. Speaking to CNBC, Ark Invest President Tom Staudt says the asset class will now have a far greater reach among investors. U.S. markets are in the green with the Dow recording its fourth positive session in five ahead of today’s inflation data. Asian equities ride the green wave with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng leading the charge. The Nikkei 225 breaches the 35,000 level for the first time since 1990. In aviation news, Alaska Airlines and United cancel further flights following last week’s 737 Max 9 blow-out incident. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun tells our colleagues stateside that the investigation will be pivotal.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Dow snaps a three-day winning streak despite chip maker Nvidia hitting a new all-time record. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 breaches the 34,000-point mark for the first time in 34 years. The SEC deletes a post on X which claimed crypto ETFs had been approved, with Bitcoin seesawing as a result. The World Bank says global growth is on track for its slowest half-decade in 30 years. Its Deputy Chief Economist Ayhan Kose tells CNBC that financing conditions around the world will remain ‘restrictive’ for the foreseeable future. In the fall-out from the 737 Max 9 mid-air blow-out, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun tells staff such an incident can never happen again and acknowledges mistakes had been made by the plane maker. And in France, 34-year-old Gabriel Attal becomes the country’s youngest ever Prime Minister as President Macron seeks to reinvigorate his cabinet. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chip giant Nvidia hits an all-time share price high on Wall Street, helping to push the Nasdaq since its best day since November. Boeing shares fall after Alaska Airlines and United both find loose bolts on parts of multiple 737 Max 9 planes. French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne resigns ahead of an expected cabinet reshuffle by President Emmanuel Macron. In crypto news, Bitcoin breaches $47k for the first time in 21 months as hopes grow of an expected approval of a Bitcoin ETF. In South Korea, weak demand and a worse-than-expected profit slump has forced Samsung to revise its Q4 guidance on, causing shares to slide.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than 170 Boeing 737 Max 9 are grounded temporarily by the FAA following an incident on an Alaska Airlines flight which saw a side panel blow off in mid-air. Wall Street records its first week in the red in ten following a stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report for December. Oil is down after three weeks of gains in the past month as Saudi Arabia cuts crude prices to their lowest levels in more than two years. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East on what is his fourth visit since the October 7th attacks in Israel. He is due to hold talks with officials in the UAE and Saudi Arabia before heading for Tel Aviv in a bid to ease ‘profound tension’ in the region. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. equities continue their tough start to 2024 with the Nasdaq on its longest losing run since 2022. Private hiring in the U.S. is up for December with wage growth slowing ahead of today’s NFP data. The ADP’s chief economist Nela Richardson tells CNBC this trend is set to continue. Exxon says it will take a $2.6bn write-down over idled assets in California while Chevron CEO Michael Wirth tells our colleagues Stateside that oil and gas demand is only set to grow. And in tech news, Apple sees shares nosedive and market cap valuation falling by almost $170bn since the start of the year following Piper Sandler’s downgrade of the company – its second this week.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Dow plunges almost 300 points on the back of perceived Fed hesitation with minutes showing uncertainty about rate cuts. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin told CNBC colleagues Stateside he will not rule out hikes. Chinese services activity hit a five-month high but this is offset by a poor employment report which has led to calls for more monetary easing. Disney wins the backing of twin hedge funds as it attempts to see off challenges from activist investor Nelson Peltz. Spanish telco Telefonica agrees a deal with unions as it launches a cost-cutting drive affecting up to 20 per cent of its workforce. And in energy news, markets are on edge with oil spiking following a bomb attack in Iran which killed around 100 people.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Wall Street Santa rally fizzles out with the Nasdaq posting its worst first trading day since 2016. Apple shares fall after Barclays cuts its rating to ‘underweight’. Shipping giant Maersk halts Red Sea shipping, prolonging its 2-day pause indefinitely following sustained attacks on vessels from Houthi rebels. Lebanon’s Prime Minister accuses Israel of attempting to drag the country into the conflict following the drone assassination of a senior Hamas leader in Beirut. In autos news, Tesla loses out to China’s BYD as the world’s top EV maker in the final three months of 2023. It did however retain its crown for the full year. The bull run continues for Bitcoin, breaking through the $45k mark with optimism seemingly growing for an ETF later this year.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chinese equities begin 2024 in the red with official manufacturing activity contracting, despite a private survey showing the sector accelerating at its fastest pace in 7 months. At least 30 people have died in western Japan following a 7.6-magnitude earthquake. Many are believed to be trapped in the rubble and thousands of homes are without power. Oil is up after Iran sends a warship to the Red Sea following the sinking of three Houthi rebel boats by the U.S. And in tech news, the Netherlands blocks certain ASML chip exports to China one day after Chinese President Xi Jinping says he is willing to stabilise trade relations with Washington D.C.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All three major indices keep Wall Street firmly in the green ahead of the final trading day of the year. The Dow pushes higher and the S&P 500 is close to a fresh record high while A.I.-related stocks help to drive the Nasdaq 100 to its best run not seen since 1999. Europe follows suit with double-digit gains. The U.S. state of Maine joins Colorado in barring former President Donald Trump from the its primary ballot. Trump has hit back at the ‘attempted theft of an election’. And new shipping industry data emerges showing 50 per cent of Red Sea container traffic is now re-routing vessels over fears of Houthi rebel attacks.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wall Street is on course to post an eight-week winning street with the Dow hitting a new closing high and the S&P 500 not far off its own record peak. The NYT sues Microsoft and OpenAI in a billion-dollar suit over copyright infringement. Apple wins a major legal victory after a U.S. appeals court rules to pause a government import ban on two of its watches. The tech giant had been in an intellectual property dispute with medtech firm Masimo. And in the UK, the government has confirmed the spring Budget will happen on March 6th.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Wall Street Santa rally extends its eight-week winning streak with bets on a March Fed rate cut boosting stocks. In China, November industrial profits are up by almost 30 per cent for November thanks to a variety of government stimulus measures. However, the numbers are still behind 2022 for the year at this point. In Hong Kong, gaming stocks lead the way as Beijing regulators confirmed they would re-consider draft rules aimed at curbing online play and spending. Oil spikes following a Houthi attack on an MSC United vessel in the Red Sea. The company is now re-routing shipments around southern Africa.  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. Santa rally is back on but European indices fail to follow suit with UK GDP receiving a downward revision signalling a potential recession next year. Sportswear giants in Europe see declines in early trade following Nike’s revenue forecast cut. The brand has unveiled a $2bn cost-cutting initiative which has knocked 10 per cent from its U.S. share price. Chinese authorities issue new spending and time rewards for online gaming, pulling Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index into the red. U.S. President Joe Biden has joined other American lawmakers in demanding closer scrutiny of Nippon Steel’s proposed $15bn takeover of iconic U.S. Steel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.