Squawk Box Europe Express

UBS posts quarterly profit of $1.2bn and hikes its dividend by 22 per cent and reaffirms its forecasts for the year. The Swiss lender says it is on track to fully integrate Credit Suisse later this year but CEO Sergio Ermotti says clients remain wary due to geo-political considerations. Pharma giant Novo Nordisk sees U.S.-listed shares plunge after warning of disappointing sales due to competition to its flagship obesity drugs. CEO Mike Doustdar believes the GLP-1 market will only get bigger. And in tech news, Anthropic’s new ‘Claude’ model causes a wider sell-off in enterprise and cloud software as the threat of A.I. disruption looms over white-collar sectors.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Global equity markets bounce back with South Korea’s KOSPI notching its best session in almost six years and the Nikkei closing at a record high. Metals prices also stabilise and claw back some of the losses from a two-day rout. The U.S. moves to slash tariffs on New Delhi from 50 to 18 per cent, nudging Indian assets higher. President Trump says the country has now agreed to halt all purchases of Russian oil. In France, lawmakers finally agree on a budget following four months of intense wrangling. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu hailed the agreement after gaining support from the Socialist party through a slew of concessions and defeating a vote of no confidence at the Assemblée Nationale.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gold and silver spot prices continue to plunge following Friday’s rout which saw the worst one-day decline since 1980 as investors digest President Trump’s decision to nominate Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chairman. Crude prices ease back from multi-month highs after Trump says the Iranian regime is engaging in “serious” talks with Washington to avert U.S. military strikes and to strike a deal on its nuclear programme. In Asia, equities kick off the new week deep in the red. South Korea’s KOSPI leads the regions losses and has triggered brief pause in trading. And the U.S. government enters a partial shutdown despite a late Senate deal on DHS funding. House Speaker Mike Johnson says the House will vote by the end of tomorrow.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

European equities are set to open in the green but Stateside futures are expected to lose ground ahead of President Trump’s eagerly anticipated announcement of a new Federal reserve chairman. Former Fed governor Kevin Warsh is now reportedly the frontrunner for the job. Apple enjoys a bumper quarter on the back of strong iPhone sales but the share price stutters on continued concerns about the company’s demand forecast and AI strategy. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attends a business leaders’ event on the final day of his landmark visit to China as President Trump warns about deeper engagement with the country. And in retail news, German sporting giant Adidas posts record sales and more than doubles operational profits in the fourth quarter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tesla suffers a fall in its annual vehicle sales for the first time in its history but shares are still in the green as the auto maker posts a beat on earnings. Tesla has also announced it will be axing its S and X models as it moves to increasingly produce humanoid robots. German lender Deutsche Bank enjoys record FY and Q4 earnings. We speak to CFO James Von Molke who says U.S. economic strength will help bolster the world’s economy. SAP posts Q4 sales results in line with expectations and says its cloud revenues are set to surge by up to 25 per cent this year.  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. dollar whipsaws and falls to a four-year low against a basket of currencies following comments from President Trump that he remained sanguine about the greenback’s recent slide. All eyes are on today’s Fed rate decision as investors ponder who will replace outgoing Chairman Jerome Powell. Chip maker ASML beats on Q4 booking and ups its forecast ahead of expectations on the back of encouraging A.I. demand. And in luxury news, LVMH defies expectations to post a 1 per cent rise in sales. This was offset by FY operating profit which fell by almost10 per cent.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hails a ‘big agreement’ struck with Brussels while European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen says the deal removes almost all trade barriers with a new a free trade zone of 2bn people. President Trump has increased tariffs on South Korean autos and other goods to 25 per cent. Metals are up at new record highs due to geo-political uncertainties with silver on course for its best month in more than 40 years. And in retail news, China’s Anta moves to acquire a 29 per cent in German sportswear brand Puma.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gold continues its upward trajectory, bypassing the $5,000/oz for the first time ever as investors seek security due to geo-political risks. President Trump threatens Canada with 100 per cent tariffs sho8uld is seal a trade deal with China but Prime Minister Mark Carney says he was not pursuing an FTA with Beijing. A partial U.S. government shutdown looms as Democrats are set to vote against an ICE funding extension after a second fatality by federal agents in Minneapolis.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy slams Europe’s ‘lost’ leaders during his address at the WEF in Davos, calling for action, not words in response to Russia’s invasion of his country. Nineteen nations sign up to President Trump’s Board of Peace despite a lack of commitment from key European nations. The leaders of Paraguay and Kosovo tell CNBC that sceptical nations will eventually come around to the initiative. Crude prices bounce back following President Trump’s claims he would renew attacks on Tehran should it attempt to revive its nuclear programme. Trump also moves to sue JP Morgan and its CEO Jamie Dimon for $5bn accusing the lender of allegedly debanking his accounts for political motives.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump tells CNBC’s Joe Kernen he has ‘the concept of a deal’ over Greenland and has stood down his threat of tariffs as a result. The reversal sends U.S. equities back into the green with the S&P 500 posting its best session since November and European futures point to a rebound as well. President Trump prepares for a signing ceremony for his Board of Peace in Davos but some leaders have so far declined to join. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof tells CNBC his government still has reservations about the agreement. And there are hopes of a bilateral meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy. Polish President Karol Nawrocki warns this channel that Russia will plan to attack Europe in the future irrespective of a Ukrainian peace deal.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 endure their worst session since October as the President Trump ratchets up tariff tensions over Greenland. Speaking on a CNBC panel of central bank governors, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel warns against the investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney bemoan the U.S. administration’s ‘rupture’ from hitherto established foreign policy strategies.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wall Street futures are in the red as U.S.-Europe tensions over the fate of Greenland concern global markets. Prior to leaving for the WEF in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump said only the U.S. can adequately protect the Arctic territory and he threatened to increase tariffs on French wine and champagne after President Macron declined his invitation to the Gaza Board of Peace. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismisses ‘unwise’ European retaliatory tariffs while Siemens Energy Chairman Joe Kaeser tells CNBC dialogue between Brussels and the White House must continue.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Trump has warned 8 European countries of further tariffs should they block the U.S. from acquiring Greenland by June. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, says European leaders will eventually be convinced the move is beneficial to the collective security of all NATO members. However, EU leaders will hold an emergency summit this week where French President Macron is expected to urge the bloc to launch almost €100bn of retaliatory tariffs and to employ its anti-coercion trade ‘bazooka’ instrument against Washington. China achieves its 5 per cent GDP growth target for 2025 thanks to booming exports but moribund domestic consumption weighs on the data. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicago Federal reserve Chairman Austan Goolsbee says the removal of Fed independence would see inflation “roaring back” and the IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva has pledged her support behind Jerome Powell who is under criminal investigation. However, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick tells CNBC that the Fed has ‘plenty of room’ to prompt further interest rate cuts. European equities hit another record high during Thursday’s session following bumper earnings from Taiwan’s TSMC. The result nudged European chip makers up and helped push the tech subindex to levels last seen at the start of the century. And a U.S. Congressional delegation are in Copenhagen to meet with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to discuss the future of Greenland.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

UK GDP figures for November beat expectations to come in 0.3 per cent higher month-on-month and 1.4 per cent year-on-year. Denmark and EU allies boost their troop presence in Greenland as talks in Washington fail to deliver an agreement. President Trump says the U.S. needs the Arctic territory for its national security. Crude prices fall as U.S.-Iranian tensions ease slightly, however both the U.S. and UK decide to withdraw military personnel from an American-run base in Qatar. And in luxury news, Cartier owner Richemont enjoys a bumper Christmas season, posting an 11 per cent surge in quarterly sales.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. core inflation data for December dips slightly below forecasts with hopes it may have peaked. President Trump once again lashes out at Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell over interest rate cuts. Crude experiences a volatile session with the prospect of U.S. intervention in Iran protests still on the table after President Trump told protestors on the ground that ‘help was on its way’. And China posts a new record high trade surplus of $1.2tn in 2025 despite U.S. tariffs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All former living Federal Reserve Chairs sign a joint condemnation of the federal criminal investigation into current chairman Jerome Powell. UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti is reportedly eyeing an exit from the position next year, triggering a succession race for one of the most contentious jobs in European banking. Airbus beats its revised delivery target for 2025 to cement its place as the world’s largest plane maker.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is under federal criminal investigation amid the central bank’s $2.5bn building renovation. Powell blamed President Trump behind the move and warned that the independence of the Federal Reserve was threatened. Iran says it will fight back if the U.S. attacks. President Trump has reportedly considered military intervention following the killing of hundreds of protestors during the largest anti-regime demonstrations seen in years. And after 25 years of negotiations, the EU is set to create the world's largest free trade area with Mercosur countries in Latin America despite fierce pushback from farmers across the bloc.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

European equities are starting the day in the green with attention focusing on the U.S. non-farm payroll print out later today, as well as a crucial Supreme Court ruling on tariffs. Chinese December inflation data comes in at a three-year high but the annual print is flat, which adds to concerns about deflation in the country. In mining news, Glencore and Rio Tinto confirm they are in talks which could potentially lead to a mega-merger, creating the world’s largest resource extraction company.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. administration says it will control Venezuela's oil sales indefinitely, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright telling CNBC the plan is needed to drive change in the country. European stocks look set to follow Wall Street into the red after mixed data stateside - with attention now turning to Friday's non-farm payrolls report. And, China reportedly asks tech companies to halt orders of Nvidia's H200 chips a day after Jensen Huang hails strong demand in the country, as Beijing looks to reduce reliance on foreign-made AI products.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.