Key Points To Watch Out For:
- Shares of Citi, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan are in the focus as they report results
- BlackRock reports a new record in assets managed and beat revenue expectations
- Bureau Veritas plans a strategic acquisition in Europe that could cement its leadership
BlackRock (BLK): Record investments and strong revenues
BlackRock, the world’s leading asset manager, closed the fourth quarter with a record $11.6 trillion in assets under management. Revenues exceeded forecasts, sending its shares soaring during early pre-market trading. This growth consolidates its leadership position and underscores the importance of its strategy of diversification into global assets.
Citi (CITI), Goldman Sachs (GS), JPMorgan (JPM) and Wells Fargo (WFC): results season
Investors’ eyes are focused on the big US banks, which are on the verge of presenting their quarterly results. Wells Fargo showed a rise of around 1.5% in pre-market trading, which is in line with positive expectations. The results of these banks will set the trend for the financial sector in the coming months.
Bureau Veritas (BVI): The European sector is on the move
France’s Bureau Veritas is in talks to acquire Swiss rival SGS (CH:SGSN). If materialized, the merged company would be worth approximately $33 billion. While SGS shares were down, Bureau Veritas posted an initial rally in European markets, showing investor optimism.
Lineage (LINE): Reorganization after IPO
The world’s largest refrigerated storage company, Lineage, reported job cuts, just six months after raising $4.4 billion in its initial public offering. The decision points to a strategic adjustment to respond to market challenges after its debut.
Bunge (BG): Progress in strategic acquisitions
The Canadian Bunge received the green light to acquire Viterra, backed by Glencore, in a deal worth US$8.2 billion. Throughout pre-market trading, Bunge shares were stable against Glencore’s slight rise in London.
