The Ibex 35 opened Friday, the final trading day of the week, with a modest gain of 0.06% that lifts the benchmark to 10,325.8 points. The session is shaped by Grifols releasing its audited annual accounts and by a takeover bid for Talgo from the Hungarian group Ganz-Mavag Magyar Vagon. The market stance reflects investors weighing earnings news against a looming M&A move. (Source: market briefings, financial press)
The Spanish pharmaceutical group Grifols published its 2023 consolidated annual report, including the non-financial information statement, with an auditor’s clean, unqualified opinion from KPMG, as disclosed to the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV). This release confirms the group’s results and governance narrative for the year. (Source: CNMV filings)
Separately, the Hungarian conglomerate Ganz-Mavag Magyar Vagon formally launched a 100% equity takeover of Talgo, submitting the offer at 619 million euros. The bid sets the price at 5 euros per share and highlights a premium of 14.4% over Talgo’s current share price, 27.7% above the level prior to the bidder’s November signal, and 41.4% above Talgo’s six-month average. (Source: company release, CNMV notification)
The government signaled it would stay vigilant over the bid to safeguard Talgo’s long-term stability. Government sources shared with Europa Press a cautious initial stance after the bid became formal, revising earlier private remarks by Transport Minister Oscar Puente, who had warned that every effort would be made to curb the operation. (Source: government statements, Europa Press)
Under macroeconomic headlines, investors await the February employment report from the United States and the euro area’s fourth-quarter 2023 gross domestic product data, both due this Friday. These releases are expected to influence near-term sentiment and capital flows. (Source: economic calendars)
At the start of trading, the leading gains within the Ibex 35 were recorded by Grifols, up 11.77%, followed by Bankinter at 3.84%, Redeia at 0.71%, and Indra at 0.71%. The session’s laggards included Rovi at −1.27%, Iberdrola at −0.86%, and Solaria at −0.58%. (Source: market data providers)
Across the major European equity markets, openings showed mixed trajectories. Frankfurt and London slipped by about 0.2% and 0.19% respectively, while Milan and Paris inched higher, with gains near 0.02% and 0.01%. The data reflect a cautious mood as investors process earnings, bids, and macro signals. (Source: regional indices reports)
In commodities and currencies, Brent crude, the European benchmark, rose 0.3% to $83.52 per barrel. Texas Intermediate traded at $79.61, up 0.86%. The euro strengthened against the dollar, trading at about 1.0939, while the Spanish 10-year government bond yield rose to roughly 3.094%. These moves sketch a day of modest risk appetite with currencies and yields responding to the evolving macro backdrop. (Source: commodity and FX markets)