Markets Open Higher on Ibex 35 Amid Leadership Changes at Indra and NH
Ibex 35 moved higher this Friday, slipping into a positive tone with a 0.29% gain. The benchmark stood at 9,239.50 points as traders prepared for news from Indra Systems and NH Hotel Group regarding leadership changes that could influence sentiment for the session ahead.
The Madrid index, which had closed it previous session almost flat at +0.02% and touched 9,213.1 points, began today’s trading by holding around the key 9,200 level. Investors are watching developments ahead of remarks from central bankers in the United States and the euro area, including Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, and Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank.
At the opening, several names led gains on the Ibex 35. Fluidra rose about 1.57%, ArcelorMittal advanced 0.96%, Grifols added 0.58%, Bankinter gained 0.30%, and Banco Sabadell rose 0.04%. On the downside, Acerinox slipped 0.40%, Ferrovial shed 0.22%, and IAG decreased by 0.22% as trading commenced.
Indra, which reported to the National Securities Market Commission after yesterday’s close, confirmed that Jose Vicente de los Mozos would become the new chief executive. His appointment, previously discussed as a succession plan with ongoing involvement by former leadership, pushed the stock higher by about 0.46%, reaching roughly €11.95 per share. The board’s recommendation pointed to de los Mozos, the former Renault director and current president of Ifema, taking over from Ignacio Mataix, who agreed earlier this year to continue in a strategic consulting role for two years as part of the transition.
For NH Hotel Group, the board has agreed to present a leadership change at the next meeting. Alfredo Fernández Agras was dismissed from the presidency after a loss of trust, and the Thai group appointed Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor International, to the top job, with Ramón Aragonés, NH’s current CEO, becoming the new president and vice president respectively. NH shares rose about 0.55% on the market by 09:15 local time, touching €4,535 per share for the session.
Across major European equity markets, openings were broadly positive this Friday. Frankfurt, Milan, Paris, and London posted gains of roughly 0.43%, 0.38%, 0.31%, and 0.30% respectively, signaling a risk-on mood at the start of the session. Traders also monitored commodity and currency movements, with Brent crude priced around $76.62 per barrel, up about 1%, and U.S. WTI near $72.55, up roughly 0.96%.
The euro traded near parity with the dollar, with the currency pair around $1.08 per euro. Spain’s risk premium stood at about 105.7 basis points, and the yield on the benchmark ten-year Spanish bond hovered near 3.53%. These indicators reflect a cautiously optimistic environment as investors digest corporate leadership shifts and macroeconomic signals from major central banks. [citation: market summaries and official disclosures attributed to respective financial authorities and company announcements].