European stocks rallied at the start of trade on Wednesday, buoyed by an interview from Ukraine’s president in which he appeared to make major concessions.
The Stoxx Europe 600
XX:SXXP
rose 2.2% to 424.28, helped by a rally in the beleaguered banking sector.
Gainers included BNP Paribas
FR:BNP,
Adidas
XE:ADS
and Deutsche Post
XE:DPW.
Adidas set out optimistic guidance for 2022, including a return to growth in China. Deutsche Post announced a new share buyback as it guided for a steady profit excluding the impact of the conflict in Eastern Europe.
Of the major regional indexes, the German DAX
DX:DAX
surged 3.5%, the French CAC 40
FR:PX1
surged 3.1% and the U.K. FTSE 100
UK:UKX
gained 2.1%.
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average
YM00
rose 323 points.
Volodymr Zelensky told ABC News that “I have cooled down regarding the question” of NATO membership and said he was open to dialogue on the fate of Eastern Ukraine republics, Donetsk and Lugansky, that Russia recognizes as independent.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week said Ukraine had no “serious prospect” of NATO membership. Russia’s and Ukraine’s foreign ministers are due to meet Thursday in Turkey.
“While the contours of the end of this war are becoming visible, that doesn’t necessarily mean the fighting will stop any time soon,” said Arne Petimezas, senior analyst at AFS Group.
Polymetal International
UK:POLY,
the Anglo-Russian gold miner, surged 37%. Polymetal said for European Union sanctions purposes, it is not owned by or acting at the direction of a person connected with Russia.
