Ibex 35 opened this Friday’s session with a modest rise of 0.74, reaching 10,087.60 points as the week drew to a close. Spain’s January unemployment figure showed a notable increase of 60,404 people, while Social Security recorded an average decline of 231,250 members during the month. These movements reflect a year-end dynamic that investors monitor closely as the country transitions from the holiday period into the first quarter of the year.
In the corporate sphere, CaixaBank delivered strong full-year results, with net profit totaling 4,816 million euros for 2023. The figure, reported to the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) as part of the bank’s annual accounts, marks a substantial 53.9 percent rise from 3,129 million euros in 2022. The bank also announced a dividend distribution of 2,890 million euros, underscoring the company’s solid earnings generation and cash return to shareholders.
The ordinary general meeting of Logista shareholders is scheduled for Friday, where the re-election of executive directors Iñigo Meirás and Maria Echenique Moscoso del Prado will be considered in the same category. The meeting will also review the company’s 2024 Long-Term Incentive Plan, aiming to secure broad stakeholder alignment through 2026 and beyond.
From a macroeconomic standpoint, January’s unemployment figure rose to 2.76 million as the post-holiday period took full effect, reflecting a typical seasonal uptick after the Christmas campaign. Social Security posted an average of 231,250 contributors for the month, a slight month-on-month decrease of 1.1 percent. Despite this dip, the historical series indicates a robust level of participation, with Social Security contributing activity remaining strong in aggregate for the month.
The Ibex 35 components showed early-session leadership with Grifols up 1.39 percent, Ferrovial advancing 1.37 percent, Merlin Properties at 1.29 percent, and BBVA rising 1.27 percent. Repsol was the notable laggard among the blue chips, slipping 1.33 percent in early trading.
Across the European market, major indices moved higher at the open: Frankfurt led with a 0.70 percent gain, followed by London at 0.39 percent, Paris at 0.38 percent, and Milan at 0.16 percent, signaling cautious risk appetite as investors digest corporate earnings and macro signals.
Oil markets opened higher as Brent crude, the European benchmark, climbed 0.61 percent to 79.18 dollars a barrel, with Texas Intermediate posting a 0.54 percent gain to 74.22 dollars. The energy complex continues to reflect ongoing demand dynamics and supply considerations that influence global pricing trends.
In the foreign exchange space, the euro strengthened against the dollar, trading around 1.0881, signaling a broad support backdrop for eurozone assets. On the debt side, Spain’s 10-year bond yield rose to roughly 3.106 percent, pointing to modest increased borrowing costs amid unchanged inflation pressures and growth expectations. These markets collectively illustrate a cautious but constructive risk environment for the region and the broader North American audience following global economic cues.
Market participants in Canada and the United States may find the day’s movements indicative of the global risk sentiment, with equity indices reacting to corporate earnings, government debt dynamics, and energy prices. As the week closes, investors often reassess positioning ahead of upcoming economic indicators and policy signals, seeking opportunities in sectors with favorable earnings visibility and solid balance sheets. The day’s data reinforces the importance of monitoring both domestic developments and international market links that shape investment decisions across North America.