Mercedes falls 3.2% after earnings plunge
Mercedes share price.
Mercedes shares opened 3.2% lower after the German firm reported a sharp profit decline in its core cars division for the third quarter amid increasing competition in China.
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) at Mercedes-Benz Cars fell 64% year-on-year to 1.198 billion euros ($1.296 billion) as revenue slipped 6%. Group EBIT was 48% lower.
The company said that within the cars unit, “weaker macroeconomic conditions and fierce competition, mainly in Asia, outweighed improved product availability.”
It had already issued a profit warning last month.
Germany’s famed automakers are attempting to transition into electric vehicles while facing a weak domestic economy and waning demand in China, the world’s largest car market.
— Jenni Reid
Europe stocks open slightly lower
Stoxx 600 index.
European markets: Here are the opening calls
European markets are seen opening mixed on Friday, according to IG data.
Germany’s DAX is set to open 33 points lower at 19,416, with France’s CAC 40 down 11 points at 7,497. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 is seen heading for a cautiously brighter start, up 5 points at 8,279, along with Italy’s MIB, seen up 20 points 34,544.
— Jenni Reid
CNBC Pro: Short Amazon and Apple as they head for all-time highs, say Itau BBA analysts
As corporate giants report their quarterly finances in the coming days, one investment bank has suggested that investors bet against two Big Tech stocks.
CNBC Pro subscribers can read more about why the analyst is telling clients to short Apple and Amazon here.
— Ganesh Rao
China’s PBOC keeps medium-term loan rate unchanged
China’s central bank kept the interest rate on medium-term loans to banks unchanged at 2%, according to the bank’s statement on Friday.
The People’s Bank of China issued 700 billion yuan ($98.36 billion) worth of one-year medium-term lending facility (MLF) loans to financial institutions at 2%, to “maintain sufficient amount of liquidity in the banking system.”
The bid rates in Friday’s operation ranged from 1.9% to 2.3%, and the total balance of MLF loans now stands at 6.789 trillion yuan, the central bank said.
— Anniek Bao
CNBC Pro: The power sector is ‘transforming,’ Morgan Stanley says, naming global stocks set to rise 40%
The electricity industry is transforming, according to Morgan Stanley, and multiple power producers, grid operators and utilities are set to benefit.
“Power demand is booming, prices are inflecting, and cost to produce clean power has fallen by a third around the world since 2023, and more so in Asia,” the investment bank’s analysts outlined in an Oct. 23 note.
“Global power markets have surprised on multiple fronts, and investors are navigating a new normal in the power value chain,” they added.
Morgan Stanley’s analysts named three overweight-rated global stocks in the electricity sector which they give more than 40% potential upside.
CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.
— Amala Balakrishner