Adient stock rises after strategic joint venture in China

Investing.com -- British stocks fell on Monday, while the pound drifted lower and wider European markets delivered a mixed performance across the region.

The blue-chip index FTSE 100 declined 0.2% and the British GBP/USD fell 0.1% against the dollar to above 1.33.

The DAX index in Germany gained 0.1%, and the CAC 40 in France fell 0.1%.

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UK round up

TotalEnergies SE (EPA:TTEF) has agreed to merge its UK operations with Repsol (BME:REP) and Hitec to form the largest independent oil and gas producer in the United Kingdom.

The deal will give TotalEnergies a 47.5% stake in the combined entity, named NEO NEXT+, making it the largest shareholder. HitecVision will control 28.875% while Repsol will hold 23.625%.

In other market news, UBS downgraded Trainline PLC (LON:TRNT) to Neutral from Buy, reducing its price target to 235p from 465p. The bank cited a lack of catalysts to improve market sentiment ahead of the UK government’s planned ticketing platform launch, noting that despite Trainline’s strong execution, the market continues to price in a high probability of negative disruption.

Barclays Capital upgraded Vodafone Group PLC (LON:VOD) to "overweight" from "equal weight" and raised its price target to 120 pence from 100 pence, pointing to expectations of a strategic turnaround after years of declining earnings.

Meanwhile, Jefferies downgraded NextEnergy Solar Fund Ltd (LON:NESF) to "underperform" from "hold" on Monday. Analysts warned that the closed-end solar investment company has breached its preference share gearing covenant with a debt to enterprise value ratio of 59%, exceeding the 50% limit. This could force significant deleveraging and create risks for its dividend, according to Jefferies.

Magnum Ice Cream shares started trading for the first time Monday on Amsterdam and London markets, opening at €12.20 on the Amsterdam exchange.

The opening price came in below the technical reference price of €12.80 that was announced Friday. Despite the lower-than-expected debut price, Magnum shares moved upward during early trading sessions.

In other market news, Smith & Nephew PLC (LON:SN) announced new mid-term targets, aiming for 6-7% revenue compound annual growth rate through 2028, above current analyst consensus of 5.2%.

The medical technology company outlined its "RISE" strategy at its Capital Markets Day in London, targeting 9-10% trading profit CAGR, over $1 billion in free cash flow, and 12-13% return on invested capital by 2028.

For 2025, Smith+Nephew reaffirmed its revenue growth guidance of around 5% while raising its trading margin guidance to at least 19.5%, up from the previous 19-20% range. The company also increased its free cash flow target to around $800 million from $750 million, driven by working capital improvements and operational efficiency.

Anglo American PLC (LON:AAL) said Monday it has withdrawn a resolution from its upcoming General Meeting that would have amended the terms of executive incentive plans amid shareholder concerns.

The company announced that Resolution 2, which proposed changes to the 2024 and 2025 Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards for Executive Directors, will no longer be considered at the meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

In executive moves, Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd (LON:ONT) announced the appointment of Francis Van Parys as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective March 2, 2026. Van Parys will succeed Gordon Sanghera, who has led the molecular sensing technology company since its founding in 2005.

Van Parys brings over 20 years of experience leading life science businesses, currently serving as President and CEO of Radiometer, a global acute care diagnostics company within Danaher Corporation. His previous leadership roles at Cytiva and GE Healthcare included positions across Europe, Asia, and North America.

Investing.com – U.K. stocks were lower after the close on Monday, as losses in the Household Goods & Home Construction, Fixed Line Telecommunications and Real Estate Investment Trusts REITs sectors led shares lower.

At the close in London, the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 fell 0.24%.

The best performers of the session on the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 were Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC (LON:SMT), which rose 2.34% or 25.00 points to trade at 1,094.50 at the close. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LON:RR) added 2.08% or 22.50 points to end at 1,107.00 and Prudential PLC (LON:PRU) was up 1.76% or 18.95 points to 1,096.95 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Vistry Group PLC (LON:VTYV), which fell 4.18% or 26.80 points to trade at 614.00 at the close. Barratt Redrow PLC (LON:BTRW) declined 3.97% or 15.00 points to end at 363.20 and JD Sports Fashion PLC (LON:JD) was down 3.77% or 3.12 points to 79.60.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the London Stock Exchange by 1029 to 735 and 551 ended unchanged.

Gold Futures for February delivery was down 0.62% or 26.35 to $4,216.65 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in January fell 1.58% or 0.95 to hit $59.13 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract fell 1.52% or 0.97 to trade at $62.78 a barrel.

GBP/USD was unchanged 0.14% to 1.33, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.03% to 0.87.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.20% at 99.17.

Investing.com – Italy stocks were lower after the close on Monday, as losses in the Travel & Leisure, Telecoms and Technology sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Milan, the Investing.com Italy 40 declined 0.02%.

The best performers of the session on the Investing.com Italy 40 were Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA (BIT:BMPS), which rose 4.36% or 0.33 points to trade at 7.92 at the close. Meanwhile, Leonardo SpA (BIT:LDOF) added 2.10% or 0.99 points to end at 48.19 and Banco Bpm SpA (BIT:BAMI) was up 2.00% or 0.24 points to 12.23 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Ferrari NV (BIT:RACE), which fell 3.50% or 11.90 points to trade at 328.50 at the close. Amplifon (BIT:AMPF) declined 2.59% or 0.36 points to end at 13.52 and Inwit (BIT:INWT) was down 2.44% or 0.19 points to 7.59.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Milan Stock Exchange by 345 to 271 and 52 ended unchanged.

Crude oil for January delivery was down 1.56% or 0.94 to $59.14 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in February fell 1.52% or 0.97 to hit $62.78 a barrel, while the February Gold Futures contract fell 0.62% or 26.50 to trade at $4,216.50 a troy ounce.

EUR/USD was unchanged 0.19% to 1.16, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.05% to 0.87.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.21% at 99.17.

Investing.com – Germany stocks were mixed after the close on Monday, as gains in the Food & Beverages, Industrials and Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare sectors led shares higher while losses in the Construction, Consumer & Cyclical and Retail sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Frankfurt, the DAX gained 0.11%, while the MDAX index fell 0.08%, and the TecDAX index lost 0.66%.

The best performers of the session on the DAX were Bayer AG NA (ETR:BAYGN), which rose 4.70% or 1.57 points to trade at 34.87 at the close. Meanwhile, Rheinmetall AG (ETR:RHMG) added 3.63% or 55.50 points to end at 1,585.00 and Deutsche Bank AG NA O.N. (ETR:DBKGn) was up 1.35% or 0.42 points to 31.53 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were GEA Group AG (ETR:G1AG), which fell 5.02% or 2.90 points to trade at 54.85 at the close. Vonovia SE (ETR:VNAn) declined 4.87% or 1.24 points to end at 24.21 and Symrise AG Inh. O.N. (ETR:SY1G) was down 3.50% or 2.42 points to 66.82.

The top performers on the MDAX were flatexDEGIRO AG (ETR:FTKn) which rose 5.67% to 33.54, RENK Group AG (ETR:R3NK) which was up 5.53% to settle at 54.57 and Bilfinger SE O.N. (ETR:GBFG) which gained 4.08% to close at 104.50.

The worst performers were Tag Immobilien AG (ETR:TEGG) which was down 5.74% to 13.14 in late trade, Puma SE (ETR:PUMG) which lost 4.88% to settle at 20.06 and Gerresheimer AG (ETR:GXIG) which was down 4.10% to 24.80 at the close.

The top performers on the TecDAX were Hensoldt Ag (ETR:HAGG) which rose 2.19% to 69.95, Evotec AG O.N. (ETR:EVTG) which was up 1.36% to settle at 5.50 and Elmos Semiconductor AG (ETR:ELGG) which gained 0.59% to close at 102.00.

The worst performers were PNE Wind AG (ETR:PNEGn) which was down 3.33% to 9.86 in late trade, Aixtron SE (ETR:AIXGn) which lost 3.33% to settle at 17.74 and Siltronic AG (ETR:WAFGn) which was down 2.76% to 47.90 at the close.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by 377 to 266 and 24 ended unchanged.

Shares in Bayer AG NA (ETR:BAYGN) rose to 52-week highs; up 4.70% or 1.57 to 34.87. Shares in Symrise AG Inh. O.N. (ETR:SY1G) fell to 5-year lows; falling 3.50% or 2.42 to 66.82. Shares in Bilfinger SE O.N. (ETR:GBFG) rose to all time highs; rising 4.08% or 4.10 to 104.50. Shares in Elmos Semiconductor AG (ETR:ELGG) rose to all time highs; gaining 0.59% or 0.60 to 102.00.

The DAX volatility index, which measures the implied volatility of DAX options, was down 2.26% to 15.94 a new 1-month low.

Gold Futures for February delivery was down 0.60% or 25.55 to $4,217.45 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in January fell 1.58% or 0.95 to hit $59.13 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract fell 1.52% or 0.97 to trade at $62.78 a barrel.

EUR/USD was unchanged 0.19% to 1.16, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.05% to 0.87.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.21% at 99.17.