Today : Mar 19, 2025
Business
19 March 2025

European Markets Rally Amid Anticipation Of Ceasefire Talks

As German debt reforms loom, investors monitor global corporate earnings and geopolitical discussions.

On March 18, 2025, European stock markets started the day on a positive note, reflecting the anticipation surrounding votes in the German government on historic debt reforms. The STOXX600 index experienced a rise of approximately 0.3%, reaching 552 points. Similarly, the French CAC index climbed by 0.3% to 8,098 points, while the German DAX saw an increase of about 0.4%, landing at 23,248 points. The British FTSE also moved upward by 0.3%, hitting 8,703 points.

Investors were particularly attentive to upcoming corporate earnings reports, with key companies such as Travis Perkins and Eni expected to release their results. Another point of focus was the ZEW indicator of economic sentiment regarding both the German and European economies. European automaker Volkswagen saw its shares increase by over 1% after the announcement that its subsidiary, Audi, plans to cut 7,500 jobs in Germany.

Additionally, market participants are watching for a scheduled phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This conversation is set to center on a proposed 30-day ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, a topic that has significant implications for global stability.

Meanwhile, on the Egyptian Stock Exchange, all institutions took advantage of the uptrend, resulting in a rise across all market indices. On the same day, Arab and foreign institutions made net purchases amounting to 62.5 million pounds and 118.19 million pounds, respectively. Local institutions also contributed to the buying spree with net purchases of 106.2 million pounds.

In contrast, Egyptian transactions mainly leaned towards selling, with investors selling shares worth a net total of 158.49 million pounds. However, the trend among Arab and foreign investors was different, as they focused on acquiring shares with net values of 40.3 million pounds and 118.09 million pounds, respectively.

The primary index of the Egyptian Exchange, the EGX30, experienced a notable rise of 0.48%, closing at 31,608.69 points, with shares of the Commercial International Bank rising by 0.09%. The EGX70 index, which tracks small and medium companies, also saw modest growth, up by 0.46% to 8,964.86 points, while the broader index EGX100 increased by 0.58%, concluding the day at 12,397.43 points.

Trading activity was robust, with volumes reaching 1.5 billion shares traded, amounting to a total value of 4.8 billion pounds across 117.3 thousand transactions. During this session, out of the 212 shares traded, 75 shares appreciated, while 96 shares declined, and the prices of 41 shares remained unchanged.

The ongoing developments highlight the intertwined nature of various global markets and the impact of geopolitical events on financial performance. Investors across Europe and Egypt remain vigilant, adapting their strategies in response to these significant occurrences.