At approximately 09:20 in Lisbon, the PSI maintained its opening trend, declining by 1.03% to 6,920.62 points. The index recorded five stocks decreasing, nine advancing, and one remaining unchanged (Jerónimo Martins at 21.32 euros).
On Wednesday, EDP Renováveis announced that Blackrock, one of the largest asset managers globally, increased its stake in the company to over 3%.
The transaction, completed on April 28, resulted in an “increase of total voting rights in EDPR to 3.665%, corresponding to a total of 38,112,349 voting rights,” as stated in the communication to the Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários (CMVM).
Previously, Blackrock held 1.972% of the capital of EDP’s renewable energy arm.
The majority shareholding (71.3%) of EDP Renováveis remains held by EDP.
Following the EDP shares, REN, CTT, and Sonae saw declines of 1.21% to 2.86 euros, 1.03% to 7.69 euros, and 0.18% to 1.12 euros, respectively.
Conversely, shares of BCP, Mota-Engil, and Ibersol rose, specifically by 2.55% to 0.58 euros, 2% to 3.56 euros, and 1.72% to 9.46 euros.
BCP announced on Wednesday that it will propose to shareholders the distribution of 453.4 million euros in dividends related to the 2024 fiscal year, along with a capital reduction and increase through a share buyback program.
In several statements published by the CMVM regarding the bank’s general assembly (AG) scheduled for May 22, led by Miguel Maya, it was indicated that 453.4 million euros in dividends will be distributed. The institution calculated this to correspond to a unit dividend per share of 0.03 euros.
Moderately, shares of Semapa, Galp, and Altri advanced by 0.84% to 16.63 euros, 0.55% to 13.71 euros, and 0.48% to 6.10 euros.
The other three stocks that rose were Navigator, NOS, and Corticeira Amorim, which appreciated by 0.18% to 3.35 euros, 0.14% to 3.68 euros, and 0.13% to 7.62 euros.
Main European stock markets opened higher today, buoyed by the possibility of trade talks between China and the United States.
European markets are ending this shorter week on a high note, having been closed on Thursday except for London. This follows the Chinese government’s statement that it is “evaluating” the possibility of initiating trade negotiations with the United States.
Considering the potential easing of trade tensions, markets are anticipating the release of the Eurozone’s April Consumer Price Index (CPI), the U.S. employment report, and the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector in Europe for April.
In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose by 1.7%, while Tokyo’s Nikkei increased by just over 1%. The Shanghai Stock Exchange was closed due to a holiday.
On Thursday, Wall Street, which remained open, closed higher following the release of results from two tech giants, Meta and Microsoft, the previous day.
On Wednesday, it was announced that U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2024.
The price of gold per troy ounce, a safe-haven asset, increased to $3,257.98, up from $3,219.54 on Thursday and reaching a new all-time high of $3,414.65 on April 21.
The price of Brent crude oil for July delivery, the benchmark in Europe, rose to $62.28 per barrel, compared to $62.13 on Thursday.
The euro appreciated, trading at $1.1331 in Frankfurt’s foreign exchange market, compared to $1.1291 on Thursday and $1.1509 on April 21, marking a new high since November 12, 2021.
