UKX FTSE 100 Index

By Carla Mozee, MarketWatch

Germany's FDP reportedly may support a minority government

European equities turned higher Monday, with German equities recovering following the collapse of talks to form a coalition government for the eurozone's largest economy.

What markets are doing: In Frankfurt, the DAX 30 index turned up 0.2% to 13,020.35, a turnaround from an losing as much as 0.5%.

France's CAC 40 was up 0.3% to 5,334.18 and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 edged up 0.1% to 7,384.78.

Spain's IBEX 35 turned up 0.5% to 10,058.50, and the Stoxx Europe 600 reversed course and rose 0.4% to 385.18. The tech and financial sectors were down the most but health care and telecom stocks led advancing groups.

The euro bought $1.1791, coming off an intraday low of $1.1723. The shared currency late Friday in New York fetched $1.1793. Against the pound, the euro traded hands at GBP0.8887 versus GBP0.8923 on Friday.

What's moving markets: Stocks started in the red after talks to form a "Jamaica" governing coalition of parties in Germany broke down. On Sunday, the pro-business Free Democratic Party ended talks about forming a coalition government (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/euro-plummets-as-uncertainty-in-germany-rattles-markets-2017-11-19) with Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and the center-left Greens.

That puts Merkel's fourth term as chancellor in doubt, as well as raising the prospect of a minority government and perhaps eventually a new general election if the situation can't be resolved.

But German equities started to turn higher and the euro came off session lows against the U.S. dollar following a Monday report that the FDP said it would support a minority government. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will make a statement at 2:30 p.m. local time, or 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, according to Bloomberg.

What strategists are saying: "European equity markets have picked up where they left off last week, heading lower after the FDP walked out of German coalition talks," said Rebecca O'Keeffe, head of investing at Interactive Investor, in a note.

"Chancellor Merkel is also one of the few European politicians who has demonstrated she may be prepared to compromise with Britain, rather than run the risk that [U.K.] Prime Minister May is replaced by a hardline Brexiteer. With almost unsurpassed political experience, markets will want Germany to find a quick solution, preferably one that leaves Mrs. Merkel in situ," she said.

Stock movers: Altice NV (ATC.AE) shares jumped 9.3% after the French telecommunications group said it has no plans to raise capital (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/altice-says-it-has-no-plans-to-raise-capital-2017-11-20-14855247). The company recently announced a management shakeup (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/altice-replaces-ceo-combes-in-exec-shakeup-2017-11-10)in the wake of disappointing third-quarter results and a slide in its share price.

RWE AG (RWE.XE) rose 2.2%, topping the DAX 30, following a Reuters report over the weekend that the German utility is considering ways to cut its stake of EUR16.8 billion ($19.8 billion) in its Innogy retail business (https://www.reuters.com/article/innogy-ma-enel/rwe-rallies-on-hopes-for-innogy-deal-less-stringent-german-climate-policy-idUSL8N1NQ1Z4). One option includes doing a deal with Italy's Enel (ENEL.MI) , the report said.

NEX Group PLC (NXG.LN) was pulled 2.8% lower as the electronic financial trading company cut its interim dividend (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nex-group-first-half-profit-falls-cuts-dividend-2017-11-20) and said profit fell in the first half of fiscal 2018.

Mediclinic International PLC (MDC.LN) fell 3.3% after the private hospital company said it's ditching plans to make an offer (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mediclinic-no-longer-plans-to-make-offer-for-spire-2017-11-20) to buy Spire Healthcare Group PLC (SPI.LN) . Spire shares fell 5.3% on the mid-cap FTSE 250 index.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 20, 2017 05:56 ET (10:56 GMT)

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