European stocks mixed; Chinese stimulus and ECB meeting in focus

Investing.com – European stock markets have started the new week in a cautious manner Monday, as investors digested more talk of Chinese fiscal stimulus ahead of a rate-setting meeting by the European Central Bank. 

At 03:10 ET (07:10 GMT), the in Germany traded 0.3% higher, while the in France fell 0.2% and the in the U.K. dropped 0.2%.

Uncertainty over Chinese stimulus pledges

European equities look to be searching for direction at the start of a new week after a choppy session in Asia on Monday in the wake of Beijing’s latest stimulus pledges.

China’s finance ministry said in a weekend briefing that it will implement fiscal stimulus measures, including more debt issuance and support for provincial governments.

But the government did not provide key details on the planned measures – specifically their timing and scale. This left investors wanting, after a similar occurrence in late-September.

China’s and indexes both rose strongly, after early wild swings, but Hong Kong’s – which has more exposure to foreign investors – fell. 

Goldman Sachs raised its 2024 real GDP forecast for China to 4.9% from the previous 4.7%, citing the “more forceful and coordinated” stimulus policies from Chinese authorities, but this is still below the official 5% growth forecast.

China is a major export market for Europe’s senior companies, and its economy has been struggling in the face of sluggish consumer spending and a real estate crisis.

ECB meets on Thursday

The meets on Thursday, and is expected to ease monetary policy by 25 basis points once more.

Eurozone business activity unexpectedly contracted in September, while inflation dropped below the ECB’s 2% target – data which suggests that the eurozone economy is in worse shape than when the policymakers last met.

“In the press conference, President Lagarde is likely to acknowledge the increased downside risks to the growth outlook,” said analysts at ABN Amro, in a note, “while repeating the language from a recent speech that ‘latest developments strengthen our confidence that inflation will return to target in a timely manner.’”

European luxury sector in focus

In the corporate sector, the European luxury sector is likely to be in focus Monday given the importance of the Chinese market, with the sector benefiting strongly since Beijing started unveiling stimulus.

French luxury group LVMH (EPA:) – the home of such names as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Tiffanys, reports third-quarter revenue on Tuesday.

Across the pond, the banking sector will remain in the spotlight, with results from the likes of Bank of America (NYSE:), Goldman Sachs (NYSE:) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:) due this week, after JP Morgan Chase (NYSE:) and Wells Fargo (NYSE:) both surpassed expectations late last week.

Crude falls on Chinese woes 

Oil prices fell sharply Monday, retreating after inflation data raised doubts about the health of the Chinese economy, while the country’s plans for fiscal stimulus largely underwhelmed. 

By 03:10 ET, the contract dropped 1.7% to $77.68 per barrel, while futures (WTI) traded 1.8% lower at $74.22 per barrel.

Chinese data released over the weekend showed unexpectedly eased in September, while marked nearly two years of contraction – data which bodes poorly for demand in the world’s biggest oil importer. 

A from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is due later in the day and is likely to provide more cues on supply, while the Middle East conflict remains in focus.