Sep 27 – Oct 1 | German elections, food and travel

News

A new month is looming on the horizon, and October will mark the start of a new earnings season. Meanwhile, markets finish September amid tensions between the US, France and Australia, and the real estate crisis in Hong Kong.

This week on the stock market, we take a closer look at three news items which could impact your portfolio.

Turning point in the German elections

This Sunday, September 26th, the Germans will go to the polls to elect members of the Bundestag. They’ll also pick the replacement for Angela Merkel. The consequences of this event will reverberate around the markets considering that Germany is Europe’s leading economic power.

This is a particularly crucial election, with several controversial topics on the line. First, there’s the current health crisis to tackle. There’s also tensions over the euro and the ultra-accommodating monetary policy of the European Central Bank (ECB). Lastly, voters are concerned about the three key sectors of Germany’s economy (agriculture, industry and services). This could be THE most crucial election since the fall of the Berlin Wall, according to some analysts.

With that in mind, you should keep an eye on any German stocks in your portfolio. And watch the ETFs that replicate the German DAX and MDAX indices: the Germany DAX 40 Index ETF (iShares) as well as the Germany MDAX 50 Index ETF (iShares).

Sector of the week: food

Is the food industry one of the few unaffected by the recent crisis? Let’s find out. This week, several companies in Europe and beyond will release their quarterly figures. It will give us a deep insight into how this ‘essential’ industry is doing.

First, on Monday, September 27th, Bonduelle will announce its figures for the quarter ending in June. The family-owned company is expected to see its earnings increase by a few euros on a year-over-year basis, thanks to an expansion strategy and the growth of sales in the US.

Next up, on Tuesday September 28th, the American company United Natural Foods will report earnings. The group specialises in the distribution of organic products. Analysts are generally quiet on the stock, but the group has a large amount of debt ($2.26 billion) which weighs heavily on the company.

Meanwhile, in the wine and spirits sector, watch out for results from Marie Brizard Wine and Spirit which will publish its earnings on Wednesday, September 29th. 

Re-opening borders between the US and Europe

Joe Biden’s government just announced the end of border restrictions for tourists from the Schengen area. The travel ban had been in place for 18 months now. This news could be positive for the tourism sector. Indeed, cross-Atlantic flights will be able to resume on a larger scale.

Keep your eye on the major airlines which provide flights between Europe and the US, such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Air France-KLM.

Economic and results calendar

Monday – Ireland Consumer Confidence Index. Quarterly figures from Bonduelle.

Tuesday – Consumer confidence index in France and Germany. Quarterly figures from United Natural Foods, Micron.

Wednesday – Inflation rate in Spain. Eurozone data on the economy, industry, consumer confidence, and inflation. Weekly oil inventory in the United States. Quarterly figures from Bed Bath & Beyond, Marie Brizard Wine and Spirit.

Thursday – Unemployment rate in Germany, Italy, euro area and United States. GDP in Great Britain. Inflation rate in France, Germany and Italy. Quarterly figures from Gérard Perrier Industrie SA.

Friday – Eurozone inflation rate. New vehicle registrations in France. Manufacturing PMI index in France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy.

We’ll be back next week with another edition of the BUX Breakdown. In the meantime, have a great week on the markets.

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The BUX Breakdown was written by Clémentine Pougnet.

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All views, opinions, and analyses in this article should not be read as personal investment advice and individual investors should make their own decisions or seek independent advice. This article has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is considered a marketing communication.