stocks, news, PMI data and earnings

U.S. crude oil hit a session low of $80.89 a barrel Tuesday, the lowest level since late March.

The West Texas Intermediate futures contract for June also dipped below the 50-day moving average of $81.22 a barrel for the first time since early February.

WTI was last trading at $81.51 a barrel, down 39 cents, while the June Brent futures contract was last down 36 cents at at $86.64 a barrel.

Traders have have bid down prices after a runup early this month on fears that Iran and Israel were on the brink of war. Those fears have largely dissipated as the bitter enemies have signaled they are not interested in a wider war after trading tit-for-tat strikes this month.

The market was also unconcerned about looming oil sanctions on Iran. The House of Representatives passed legislation over the weekend that would target ports, vessels and refineries that accept Iranian oil. The Senate could take up the legislation this week.

— Spencer Kimball

The Bank of England’s chief economist Huw Pill struck a hawkish note Tuesday, indicating that a forthcoming interest rate cut might not come as soon as expected.

While falling inflation has brought a prospective cut “somewhat closer,” Pill said there was more risk in cutting rates too quickly than too late.

“The combination of little news and the passage of time have brought a Bank Rate cut somewhat closer,” Pill said in a speech to the University’s of Chicago Booth School of Business, according to Reuters.

“But the same lack of news gives me no reason to depart from the baseline,” he said, in reference to a previously stated more restrictive stance.

As recently as Monday, markets had been expecting an initial quarter-point cut from the Bank of England in August.

— Karen Gilchrist

Euro zone business activity expanded in April as growth in the bloc’s services sector offset weakness in manufacturing, new data showed Tuesday.

HCOB’s preliminary composite euro zone purchasing managers’ index, compiled by S&P Global, rose to 51.4 this month, up from 50.3 in March and ahead of the 50.7 anticipated.

Meantime, the U.K. business sector also showed signs of strength, with S&P Global’s purchasing managers’ index rising to a stronger-than-expected 54 in April, up from 52.8 the previous month.

— Karen Gilchrist

Shares of Associated British Foods rose 9.5% after it raised its outlook and interim dividend amid easing inflationary pressures on its food brands and improved sales at high street retailer Primark.

Meantime, Dutch recruiter Randstad fell 6% following a bigger-than-expected fall in first-quarter earnings as hiring conditions weaken.

— Karen Gilchrist

European stocks opened higher Tuesday, with the benchmark Stoxx 600 index up 0.6% by 8:05 a.m. London time.

The U.K.’s FTSE 100 climbed 0.5% to hit an all-time intraday high, while France’s CAC 40 was 0.3% higher, and Germany’s DAX up 0.8%.

Swiss drugmaker Novartis raised its full-year guidance after reporting better-than-expected first-quarter results led by the success of products including heart failure drug Entresto and psoriasis drug Cosentyx.

The company said 2024 net sales were set to grow by a high-single to low double-digit percentage, while adjusted operating income was expected to grow by a low double-digit to mid-teens percentage.

It previously forecast adjusted operating income to increase by a “high single-digit” percentage and sales growth to rise by a “mid single-digit.”

— Karen Gilchrist

French automaker Renault on Tuesday reported a 1.8% uptick in its first-quarter revenue, led by strong performance in its financing business.

The company sold 549,099 units in the three-month period, with revenue totaling 11.7 billion euros ($12.47 billion). That’s slightly above a company-provided consensus of a slight annual drop to 11.49 billion euros.

— Karen Gilchrist

Heightened geopolitical tensions have triggered volatility in crude oil prices, but one strategist is looking keenly for opportunities in the energy sector.

It was among the laggards last year, but things have turned around with many stocks now trading near all-time highs.

Stephen Ellis, energy and utilities strategist at Morningstar, said oil market volatility does present challenges and urged investors to be patient, which “regularly pays off within energy.”

However, he did say there were “selective bargains” in the market currently and revealed five stocks in the energy space he likes right now.

CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.

— Amala Balakrishner

European markets are set to open in positive territory Tuesday, building on gains seen at the start of the new trading week.

The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 39 points higher at 8,070, Germany’s DAX up 117 points at 17,969, France’s CAC 36 points higher at 8,057 and Italy’s FTSE MIB up 98 points at 33,628, according to data from IG.

Earnings are set to come from Renault, Kering, OVH and Novartis, and Associated British Foods releases interim results. On the data front, preliminary manufacturing and services purchasing managers’ index data for the euro zone in April will be released.

— Holly Ellyatt