LONDON -- Equity markets have been trading in the red in Europe today, pressured after overnight data from Japan showed the country had a wider-than-expected trade deficit. Elsewhere, attention is continuing to focus on the peripheral countries as Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg and head of the group of euro-area finance ministers, visits Athens to hear an official request from Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras for a two-year extension to the country's fiscal adjustment program.
With this risk-off attitude, the Spanish IBEX
As always, the following price moves are based on this morning's European trading.
Financial stocks are underperforming on the Spanish market today as broader concerns surrounding Europe and sovereign debt continue to weigh on the sector. This is led by profit taking in Banco Espirito Santo (NASDAQOTH: BKESY.PK), which is down 4% on profit-taking after it hit a six-week high thanks to a strong performance from its Spanish assets.
Meanwhile, Banco Santander
On a more positive note, Nokia
Elsewhere, Norwegian fish farm plant Marine Harvest (NASDAQOTH: MNHVY.PK) is up 2.3% after analysts at Nordea suggested the price of salmon, which is the main focus of Marine Harvest, is set to rise significantly starting in November. They expect an average price of 30 kroner per kilogram in 2013. Today, Oslo-based processor Morpol said sales of smoked salmon increased by 20% in Germany, indicating the steady increase in demand for fresh salmon may also be spilling over to the smoked and cured variety.
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