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* AB InBev shares slump as it cuts growth outlook
* Kering , Gucci top STOXX 600 gainers
* Barclays up on Q3 beat
(Updates to market close)
By Sruthi Shankar
Oct 25 (Reuters) - A late turnaround helped European stocks
notch gains for a fifth straight session on Friday, as signs of
progress in U.S-China trade talks and upbeat reports from luxury
goods makers dispelled some fears about an earnings and growth
slowdown.
After starting the day nearly flat and eventually falling as
much as 0.4%, the main European equities benchmark .STOXX
recovered to finish 0.2% higher.
New York's S&P 500 .SPX surpassed its record closing high
after CNBC reported that the United States and China were close
to finalising parts of a trade pact, while the trade-sensitive
German DAX .GDAXI rose 0.2%. France's CAC 40 .FCHI outperformed major regional indexes
as Gucci owner Kering PRTP.PA jumped 8.7%, while Italian
jacket maker Moncler MONC.MI rose 11.3%. The companies joined
other luxury labels in easing fears of a major third quarter
sales hit from protests in Hong Kong. Europe's retail index .SXRP gained 1.2%, leading gains
among major subsectors.
The food and beverage sector .SX3P led losses on Friday,
however, after brewer AB InBev ABI.BR provided a cautious
outlook and reported weaker-than-expected quarterly earnings
growth, sparked by reduced demand for its beer in Brazil and
South Korea. Shares in Carlsberg CARLb.CO and Heineken HEIN.AS
dropped about 2% each.
"Today's moves seem to have trimmed some of the progress we
have seen on the week," said Ken Odeluga, an analyst with City
Index in London.
"You have a mechanical effect from that 10% decline in AB
InBev, but you can't really generalize. We may not see a stellar
earnings season but with expectations so low there will be more
beats for sure," Odeluga added.
MORE WRANGLING
The prospect of months more wrangling over Brexit remained
as the EU failed to set a date for Britain's departure from the
bloc, while the UK parliament squabbled over Prime Minister
Boris Johnson's call for an election to break the deadlock.
EU ambassadors agreed in principle to a delay beyond the
Oct. 31 deadline, but will not decide the length of the
extension until Monday or Tuesday, an official said.
London's FTSE 100 .FTSE fell for the first time in five
sessions, while mid-caps .FTMC and the pound weakened as
Johnson conceded for the first time on Thursday that he could
not meet his Oct. 31 Brexit deadline. Despite uncertainties around trade and Brexit, the STOXX 600
closed the week with a gain of more than 1% after a handful of
industry heavyweights topped low market expectations.
The Swiss index .SSMI , packed with defensive shares that
have been favoured this year, hit a record high.
Shares in French tyre maker Michelin MICP.PA gained 6%
after it maintained its full-year profit guidance even as it cut
its forecast again for the global tyre market. German telecoms operator 1&1 Drillisch DRIG.DE and its
parent United Internet UTDI.DE tanked after the former's
request to review prices under an agreement with rival
Telefonica Deutschland O2Dn.DE was rejected. Offsetting those gains was a 16.2% fall in shares of
entertainment company Ubisoft UBIP.PA , which lost roughly a
quarter of its value after cutting its 2020 earnings guidance.
Among banks, Britain's Barclays BARC.L rose 2.4% after
reporting higher than expected third-quarter earnings.
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Anheuser and beer companies https://tmsnrt.rs/2NaW5yV
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