Rosalind Evans
The final trading day, 2023, marked a significant upturn for European stocks, encapsulating a year of resilient financial performance across various sectors. With critical indices like the regional Stoxx 600 and the FTSE 100 ending in the green, the European stock market demonstrated its ability to withstand economic challenges and investor uncertainties.
European stocks celebrated the end of 2023 on a high note. The Stoxx 600 index, a regional benchmark, was up by 0.29% in the afternoon, reflecting gains across all sectors. Despite thin trading volumes, this increase signalled a positive culmination of the year. The London markets closed early and saw the FTSE 100 index rise, although the FTSE 250 experienced a slight dip.
A notable highlight was the Spanish pharmaceutical giant Grifols, which surged 8.9%. This leap came after the announcement of its plan to sell a 20% stake in Shanghai RAAS, a blood products company, to China’s Haier for an impressive $1.8 billion.
The Stoxx index is projected to have gained over 12% in 2023, effectively recovering from its 2022 losses, according to LSEG data. Despite the country’s economic struggles, Germany’s DAX index has shown a remarkable rise of nearly 20%. France’s CAC 40 and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 also reported substantial gains of 16.3% and 3.64%, respectively.
In contrast, U.S. stocks remained relatively unchanged, with the S&P 500 index nudging towards a new record high. The latest economic data, including jobless claims, suggest a deceleration in U.S. economic growth, yet a partial halt. Market speculation is heavily inclined towards anticipating the Federal Reserve’s beginning rate cuts by March 2024.
The year’s final economic data revealed a slowdown in annual headline inflation across significant economies. The U.S. decreased to 3.1% in November from 6.4% in January. Similar trends were seen in the eurozone and the U.K., fueling expectations of rate cuts amid economic slowdowns in these regions.
Economists at Berenberg commented on the U.S. scenario, noting the “apparent loss of U.S. economic momentum in late 2023.” However, they believe the Federal Reserve is on course to achieve a ‘soft landing’ in 2024, thanks to the easing of underlying inflation. They expect the first rate cut to occur in May 2024, slightly later than market predictions.
In the real estate sector, U.K. house prices showed a 1.8% fall year-on-year in December, according to Nationwide. This was a more significant drop than expected but far less than the dire predictions made earlier in the year.
As 2023 concludes, European stocks have proven their resilience and growth potential despite economic uncertainties and fluctuating global markets. The upward trend in critical indices and sectors, coupled with strategic corporate moves and economic policy shifts, points towards a cautiously optimistic outlook for 2024.
