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• Wall Street Journal, January 15, 2019

  These are the most popular stories from the Wall Street Journal. These stories have not been?verified and we cannot vouch for their accuracy. Dennis Cinelli, a technology executive who is currently a board member at Paramount Skydance, has been named as the company's next chief financial officer. After a visit to the White House, top officials from Denmark and Greenland stated that they had not convinced U.S. president Donald Trump to give up his plans to annex Greenland. Federal investigators are examining how Boeing has responded to previous failures on McDonnell Douglas aircraft. Alibaba Group is rolling out an update to its Qwen App, which integrates?the chatbot within its ecosystem. It will also allow it to carry out tasks for users. Affiliates of Kaiser Permanente have agreed to pay $556 million in settlement to claims that they illegally pressed doctors to add codes for diagnoses to patient records they had never considered, to increase Medicare payments.

• Oil prices spike on potential Iranian supply disruption

  The oil prices continued to rise on Tuesday as heightened concerns about the major Iranian producer and possible supply disruptions overshadowed the?prospects of an increased crude supply coming from Venezuela. Brent futures rose $1.20 or 1.9% to $65.07 per barrel at 1150 GMT. This is the highest Brent has been since mid-November. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude climbed $1.23 or 2.1% to $60.73. John Evans of PVM Oil Associates said, "The oil markets are building some price protection to counter geopolitical factors." Evans highlighted the possible exclusion of Iran’s?exports as well as the problems in Venezuela, the talks about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Greenland issue. Iran, one the largest producers of oil in the Organization?of Petroleum Exporting countries, is currently facing its most violent anti-government protests in many years. Donald Trump warned of possible military action after a government crackdown on protesters led to thousands of arrests and hundreds of deaths, according to a rights group. Trump said on Monday that any nation that conducts business with Iran would be charged a 25% tariff on all business done with the United States. Iran exports most of its oil to China. Unidentified drones also struck four Greek-managed tankers on Tuesday. Eight sources said that the tankers were on their way to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal near the Russian coast. Janiv Shah of?Rystad said that for the moment, concerns over a glut in supply have been put on hold. He added that excessive refinery output in Europe is weighing down the gasoil markets. Unrest supports Brent's Premium Brent crude oil's price premium over Middle East benchmark 'Dubai' rose to its highest level since July on Tuesday as geopolitical tensions between Iran and Venezuela boosted the global 'price marker', LSEG data revealed. Barclays stated in a note that "unrest in Iran added approximately $3-4 per barrel to the geopolitical premium of oil prices." The markets are also concerned about the additional crude oil supply that will hit the market with a return of Venezuelan exports. Trump announced last week that Caracas was ready to 'hand over to the U.S. up to 50 million barrels oil subject to Western sanctions. Oil trading houses from around the world have beaten U.S. energy giants in the race to control Venezuelan oil flows. Reporting by Seher DAREEN in London, Anushree MUKHERJEE in Bengaluru, and Jeslyn LERH in Singapore. Editing by Bernadette BAUME and David GOODMAN

• Delta places Boeing 787 in order to forecast earnings growth on premium travel demand

  Delta Air Lines, on Tuesday, forecast a 20% increase in earnings by 2026, citing strong corporate and consumer demand, as well as rising sales for premium travel. The airline also announced that it had agreed to purchase 30 Boeing 787-10 aircraft to bolster its long-haul fleet. The shares of the airline fell by nearly 5% during premarket trading, as the forecasts were largely "below" estimates. As lower-income consumers are under pressure due to inflation and a weaker purchasing power, the airline is benefiting from a resilient demand from higher-income travelers. This divergence was apparent in the December quarter when the overall passenger revenue increased by just 1%. However, this masked a growing gap within the cabin. The revenue for main-cabin tickets fell by 7% compared to a year ago, but revenue from premium products grew by 9%. Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated that the majority of Delta's seat expansion is planned for premium products. The main cabin will see little growth. The airline's long term strategy is reinforced by the fact that new aircraft are configured with more premium seats. Bastian said that the outlook was "upbeat," noting the record bookings at the beginning of the year. However, the airline maintains a range in its forecast because of ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and policy-related uncertainties. Delta, based in Atlanta, expects a full-year adjusted earnings per share between $6.50 and $7.50 as well as free cash flow between $3 billion and $4 billion. Delta expects revenue growth between 5% and 7% for the March quarter. It also forecasts adjusted earnings per share of $0.50-$0.90. LSEG surveyed analysts who expect earnings per share of $7.25 for the year, and $0.72 for each quarter. INTERNATIONAL RECOVERY - UNVEIL Bastian stated that the international demand is still strong, despite markets like Canada and China not yet fully recovering. Capacity to China remains well below pre-pandemic levels. He said that the World Cup soccer tournament could be a catalyst for inbound travel and ease a blockage in international demand. In 2025, the airline had its highest ever level of premium revenue and diversification. Nearly 60% of its total revenue came from premium cabins and loyalty programs, as well as other non-ticket revenue sources such as its long-standing relationship with American Express. Bastian, a Delta spokesperson, told reporters that Delta's customers prioritize travel and high-quality experiences. The disparity in consumer spending has also changed the shape of the U.S. aviation industry. Low-cost and Ultra-low-cost Carriers, who rely heavily upon price-sensitive travellers, have struggled with weak profitability and excess capacities, leading to consolidation and retrenchment. Allegiant announced plans to purchase Sun Country Airlines while Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy. Bastian stated that "the lower-end consumers are struggling." We are fortunate to not live in that area. BOEING ORDER DIFFERSIFIES LONG HAUL FLEET Delta's adjusted fourth-quarter earnings of $1.55 per share barely beat analyst's expectations. However, results were affected by the longest U.S. government shutdown in history, which caused tens and thousands of flight disruptions, and reduced quarterly profits by about $200 million. In 2025, the airlines also suffered a drop in demand due to the sweeping U.S. Tariffs that eroded consumer confidence. Delta's outlook for 2026 assumes that these disruptions won't be repeated. Delta, as part of its long-term fleet plan, will purchase 30 Boeing 787-10 widebody planes, with an option for another 30, and deliveries are expected to begin in 2031. Delta will have a brand-new aircraft with the 787-10. Bastian explained that the aircraft was chosen for its efficiency and flexibility in mid-range international routes. This includes those across the Atlantic, to South America and other destinations where ultra-long range capability is not needed. He said that the 787-10 was cheaper to operate than larger widebodies like the Airbus A350 on many missions. Delta Airlines has been a strong proponent of Airbus for the last 15 years. Its fleet is centered around the A220, A320, and A350 narrowbody aircraft, as well as its flagship A330 widebody. Bastian explained that the Boeing order was a deliberate attempt to diversify the suppliers and reduce reliance on one manufacturer, as the airline expanded internationally. He said that it was difficult to run a business if the airline relied on a single supplier. (Reporting and editing by Jamie Freed; Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh)

• Delta's Boeing 787 order is a bet on the premium travel market and its positive outlook.

  Delta Air Lines, which has a long-haul fleet, forecast a 20% increase in earnings by 2026. It cited strong corporate and consumer demand, as well as rising sales. As lower-income customers are under pressure due to 'inflation' and a weaker purchasing power, the airline is benefiting from a resilient demand from higher-income travellers. This divergence was apparent in the December quarter when the overall passenger revenue increased by just 1%. However, this masked a growing gap within the cabin. The revenue for main-cabin tickets fell by 7% compared to a year ago, but revenue from premium products grew by 9%. Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated that the majority of Delta's seat expansion is planned for premium products. The main cabin will see little growth. The airline's strategy is reinforced by the fact that new aircraft are equipped with more premium seats. Bastian described the outlook for the airline as "upbeat" pointing out record booking trends at the beginning of the year. However, the airline maintains a range in its forecast because of ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and policy-related uncertainties. Atlanta-based Delta Airlines expects adjusted earnings per share for 2026 to be between $6.50 and $7.50, with free cash flow between $3 billion and $4 billion. Delta expects revenue growth between 5% and 7% for the quarter ending March, with adjusted earnings per share ranging from $0.50 to $0.90. LSEG surveyed analysts who expect earnings per share of $7.25 for the year, and $0.72 for each quarter. International Recovery Uneven Bastian stated that the international demand is still strong, even though some markets, such as Canada and China, have not recovered fully. Capacity to China remains well below levels before the pandemic. He said that the World Cup soccer tournament, which is coming up in a few months' time, could unlock international travel and ease a blockage. The airline ended 2025 having the highest premium and diverse revenue of its history. Nearly 60% of its total revenue came from premium cabins and loyalty programs, as well as other non-ticket revenue sources such as its long-standing relationship with American Express. Bastian, a Delta spokesperson, told reporters that Delta's customers prioritize quality travel experiences and continue to value them. The imbalance of consumer spending has also changed the shape of the U.S. aviation industry. Low-cost and Ultra-low-cost Carriers, who rely heavily upon price-sensitive travellers, have struggled to maintain profitability due to excess capacity and weak profits, leading them into consolidation and retrenchment. Allegiant announced plans to purchase Sun Country Airlines while Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy. Bastian stated that "the lower-end consumers are struggling." We are fortunate to not live in that area. BOEING ORDER DIFFERSIFIES LONG HAUL FLEET Delta's adjusted fourth-quarter earnings of $1.55 per share barely beat analyst's expectations. However, results were affected by the longest U.S. government shutdown in history, which caused tens and thousands of flight disruptions, and reduced quarterly profit by about $200 million. In?2025 airlines also suffered a drop in demand due to the sweeping U.S. Tariffs that eroded consumer confidence. Delta's outlook for 2026 assumes that these disruptions won't be repeated. Delta will purchase 30 Boeing 787-10 Widebody Aircraft as part of its fleet strategy. It has options to buy an additional 30 aircraft. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2031. Delta will be introducing a new aircraft with the 787-10. Bastian stated that the aircraft was chosen for its efficiency and flexibility in mid-range international routes. This includes across the Atlantic, to South America and other destinations where ultra-long range capability isn't required. He said that the 787-10 was cheaper to operate than larger widebodies like the Airbus A350 on many missions. Delta Airlines has been a strong Airbus supporter for the last 15 years. Its fleet is based on Airbus' A220, A320, and A350 narrowbody aircraft, as well as its flagship A330 widebody. Bastian explained that the Boeing order was a deliberate attempt to diversify the suppliers and reduce reliance on one manufacturer, as the airline expanded internationally. He said that it was difficult to run a business if the airline relied on a single supplier. (Reporting and editing by Jamie Freed; Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh)

• French farmers are targeting food imports amid Mercosur protests

  Farmers in France stopped lorries on France's main motorway north from Paris and at France's biggest container port on Monday to conduct?symbolic inspections of imported food as a protest against an EU-Mercosur trade deal, which they claim will lead unfair competition. Since weeks, farmers in?France have protested over a number of grievances, including the proposed Mercosur trade deal. Farmers and opposition parties have increased pressure on the French government following Friday's deal approval. The Young Farmers Union, which had assembled with tractors at the weekend in the northern port Le?Havre to inspect food trucks leaving the port. FARMERS DENOUNCE "UNFAIR COMPETITION" Justin Lemaitre is the secretary general of a local union branch. He said that it was difficult to accept unfair competition when products produced in Europe were imported from other parts of the world. Protesters at Le Havre also observed sheep offal and mushrooms from China. Patrick Legras said that farmers from the Coordination Rurale Union were performing'similar checks' on lorries headed towards Paris at a toll gate near Lille in the north. Unions and French media also reported that farmers were blocking fuel depots in the Atlantic port La Rochelle, in the Savoie area?of the French Alps as well as a grain port?in Bayonne, in the southwest. Farmers will bring tractors to the capital on Tuesday for a demonstration, after a surprise protest there on Thursday. This is ahead of an upcoming gathering at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the 20th January. French farmers are hoping that the parliament will stop the Mercosur agreement. (Reporting and editing by Barbara Lewis; Gumpiz Trompiz)

• Four tankers, which had left Venezuela in "dark mode", are now back in its waters

  Four tankers, the majority of which were loaded, left Venezuela early in January in "dark mode" - that is, with their transponders turned off despite a "strict" U.S. blockade. According to the state company PDVSA, and the monitoring service TankerTrackers.com, the blockade is now in place. Last month, a flotilla consisting of at least three empty ships and a dozen vessels with cargo left Venezuelan waters. This was in apparent defiance to an embargo that President Donald Trump imposed on Venezuela since mid-December. The U.S. seized the?supertanker M Sophia with a Panamanian flag this week as it returned to the country. Another Aframax Tanker Olina, flying a Sao 'Tome and Principe flag, was also?intercepted, but was released to Venezuela Friday by state company PDVSA. Tankertrackers.com spotted three more vessels in Venezuelan waters on Friday night through satellite images. These were the Panama-flagged Merope and Cook Islands-flagged Min Hang, as well as Panama-flagged Thalia III. U.S. authorities had announced on Friday that Olina, formerly known as Minerva m, would be released. They said that the next step in the negotiations between Caracas, Washington and the U.S. for a $2 billion oil deal would be to begin organized crude exports. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that arrangements had been made for a supply of oil in a meeting with executives from top oil companies on Friday. Sources said that Vitol, Trafigura and other global trading houses received the first U.S. licensing to carry Venezuelan exports and to negotiate with Venezuela. Naphtha is also expected to be supplied to the OPEC nation, according to sources. Marianna Pararaga, Julia Symmes Cobb and Marianna Parraga contributed to this report.

• Protesting French farmers brought tractors to Paris center

  On Thursday, French 'farmers' blocked sites in Paris in protest of a sweeping trade agreement the European Union was about to sign with South American nations as well as other local grievances. Farmers of the Coordination Rurale Union called for protests to be held in Paris over their anger at a free-trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and South American bloc Mercosur. They are concerned that the agreement could flood the country with cheap imports and they also objected to the government's handling of a cattle disease. "We are caught between resentment, and despair. "We feel abandoned, just like Mercosur." "We've been abandoned for a spaceship, an Airbus or a vehicle," Stephane Pelletier said, the deputy president of the union of Vienne in central France. The protest comes just days after the European Commission announced that it would make 45 billion euros in EU funding earlier available to farmers, and cut import duties for some fertilizers to try to win over countries who were hesitant to support Mercosur. Germany, Spain and Italy are all in favor of the deal. The Commission appears to have secured the necessary votes to pass the agreement with or without French backing. The deal will be voted on on Friday. Farmers are also calling for an end to the culling of cows, prompted by a number of Highly contagious lumpy Skin Disease They consider this to be excessive and recommend vaccination. Several tractors have been parked along the Seine river bank, below the Eiffel tower. They are blocking some of the city's access points from the Peripherique. This includes the Porte d'Auteuil. The French police imposed an absolute ban, but they still managed to reach the centre of the city. (Reporting and editing by Lincoln Feast, Richard Lough and Richard Lough; Inti Landauro, Sybille de la Hamaide and Camille Raynaud)

• Bousso: Trump's "Donroe doctrine" could cost US oil companies their jobs if it targets China.

  Donald Trump has announced his intention to import Venezuelan oil that was previously sanctioned into the U.S. This will disrupt the global energy game plan and highlight the seriousness of Trump's administration's ambition to control the Western Hemisphere. China could be the ultimate?target of this "Donroe doctrine" - Trump's rebranding a 19th century doctrine that asserted Washington’s zone of control in the Americas. U.S. Oil Companies could be the unintended "victims". Trump announced on Tuesday that Caracas had agreed to export Venezuelan crude worth up to $2 billion to the U.S. It was only a few days after the U.S. ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, and demanded that the Latin American nation open its energy sector to American oil firms - or face further military intervention. Trump announced in a post on social media that Venezuela would "turn over" 30 to 50 million barrels sanctioned oil. Although the timeframe of the deal has not been revealed, it is likely that shipments will begin soon. Chris Wright, the Energy Secretary of the United States, said that U.S. Needs to Control Venezuelan oil revenues and sales will be used to fuel the desired changes in Venezuela. Trump's plan is primarily aimed at China, who accounted for about 400,000 barrels of oil per day in Venezuela's exports last. According to Kpler, this is more than 50% of Venezuela's total oil exports. ROI calculated that around two thirds of Venezuelan sanctioned exports were in this category. The U.S. could seize the equivalent of four months' worth of Chinese oil supplies, and about 55 days' worth of Venezuelan production, which is currently around 900,000. The Trump administration has also reportedly instructed Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rod to cut economic ties with China. PetroSinovensa is the largest Chinese oil asset in Venezuela. It's a joint venture between Venezuelan state-owned PDVSA, and China National Petroleum Corp. The JV is located in the Orinoco Belt, and produces around 65,000 barrels per day. The Trump administration's actions against Venezuela are part of a broader geopolitical plan. This is more than just redirecting barrels originally headed for China's refiners. Bob McNally is a former White House official and president of Rapidan Energy Group. He says that it signals President Trump's intention to?push China, Russia and Iran out from their deep footholds within Venezuela. "DONROE DOCUMENT" IN ACTION The White House released its National Security Strategy late last year. The document called for a cementing of U.S. power in the Western Hemisphere, by removing competitors and restoring American control on energy and supply chains. The "Donroe Doctrine", as it is known, harks back to former U.S. president James Monroe's foreign policy in 1823 when he declared that the Americas would no longer be open for future colonisation by European power. Trump's threats to seize Greenland this week, an Arctic self-governing island that is part of Denmark, also align with these ambitions. Investors may want to take the White House national security strategy, and its words, more seriously. He told reporters that the "dominance of America in the Western Hemisphere" would never be questioned. BEIJING BLOWBACK The actions of the 'Americans in Venezuela' have put U.S. firms, especially oil companies, in a difficult position. Exxon Mobil and Chevron, for example, could be facing legal issues if they enter into an agreement with Venezuela's government to invest in assets that were previously owned by Chinese or Russian firms. Trump's unilateral action could also lead to China's retaliation, which would put the assets of U.S. firms abroad at risk. U.S. major oil companies have a number of operations that are jointly owned by Chinese firms. Exxon, for example, wholly owns a petrochemical complex in southern China that began operations last year after a $10 billion investment. Chevron also owns stakes both in upstream joint ventures, as well as in downstream operations for fuels and lubricants. Both companies have also signed large contracts for the supply of liquefied gas to Chinese customers. Of course, the risk extends beyond China. If American companies are increasingly seen as state-owned, host governments may be more reluctant to work with them. Although the U.S. President may not see any downside to ignoring international conventions and rules, American companies might. Subscribe to my Power Up newsletter to receive my weekly column, plus additional energy insights, and links to trending articles every Monday and Thursday. Subscribe to my Power Up Newsletter here. You like this column? Open Interest (ROI) is your essential source for global commentary on financial markets. ROI provides data-driven, thought-provoking analysis. The markets are changing faster than ever. ROI can help you keep up. Follow ROI on LinkedIn, X.

• MoD: UK supported US mission in seizing Russian-flagged tanker

  The Ministry of Defence announced on Wednesday that Britain had provided assistance to the United States during its operation to capture a "Russian flagged oil tanker" in the North Atlantic. After pursuing the tanker for over a month across the Atlantic, Washington was able to seize the vessel on Wednesday. Britain's armed forces provided "pre-planned?operational support including basing", following a request from the United States for assistance. The report said that a naval vessel aided the U.S. forces in pursuing the oil tanker and the Royal Air Force provided aerial surveillance. Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the operation was targeted at a vessel with a "nefarious past" connected to Russian and Iranian sanction evasion networks. In a press release, he stated that "this action was part of global efforts?to crack down on sanctions-busting". He said that the U.S. had been 'Britain's most important partner in defence and security. Today's smoothly executed 'operation' shows how this relationship works. British officials confirmed that the U.S. sanctioned the Bella-1, now called Marinera under its?counter-Iran sanctions. In a statement, the MoD said that support had been provided "in compliance with international law". (Reporting and writing by William James; editing by Paul Sandle, Kate Holton, and Sam Tabahriti)

• After weeks of pursuit, the US seizes a Russian-flagged, Venezuela-linked oil tanker

  Two U.S. officials said on Wednesday that the United States was attempting to seize an oil tanker flying the Russian flag with "links" to Venezuela, after a two-week pursuit across Atlantic. A Russian warship and submarine were also close by. The tanker, known originally as Bella-1, had slipped past a U.S. "blockade" maritime of sanctioned oil tankers, and refused to allow the U.S. Coast Guard to board it. Officials, speaking under condition of anonymity said that the Coast Guard was involved in the operation, as were the U.S. Military. It was the first time since recent memory that the U.S. Military attempted to seize an American-flagged ship. The Russians also said that there were?vessels of the Russian military in the general area, including a Russian sub. The vessels' proximity to the operation near Iceland was not clear. TANKER IS ONE OF THE VESSELS TARGETED by the U.S. Last month, the U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board the vessel but it refused. It has been registered under the Russian flag since then. The U.S. Coast Guard has targeted the Marinera tanker as part of its pressure campaign against Venezuela since Donald Trump began his campaign. U.S. officials have confirmed that the U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted a second Venezuela-linked oil tanker in Latin American water. The U.S. is continuing to enforce a maritime "blockade", of vessels sanctioned from Venezuela. These?moves are just days after U.S. Special Forces swooped in Caracas at dawn on Saturday to?capture President Nicolas Maduro, and bring him to the United States. The U.S. Military handed him over to the?federal authorities in order to prosecute him on charges of alleged drug trafficking. Venezuelan officials have called Maduro’s capture as a kidnapping, and accused the U.S. for trying to steal Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Trump and other top U.S. officials, in turn, have accused Venezuelans of stealing U.S. crude oil. This is an apparent reference to Venezuela's nationalization in waves of its energy industry over the last half century. (Reporting and editing by Andrew Heavens, Frances Kerry and Idrees Stewart)

• Greece offers cheaper fuel and damage coverage to farmers in a bid to end the blockade

  Greece offered farmers full compensation for any future losses in production and cheaper fuel on Wednesday, as a desperate attempt to persuade them that the protests which have affected travel and some businesses should stop. Since late last year, farmers have been stationing thousands of tractors across Greece to protest high production and payment delays. The centre-right Prime Minister KyriakosMitsotakis has called on farmers to stop the "blockades" and enter into talks. Farmers have threatened to take further action if their demands are not met, including minimum prices for their products. The Greek Ministers have admitted that payments began a month after the scandal over farm aid, but in November they were delayed because EU approval was required. Farmers received 4.46 billion euros (3.8 billion dollars) as aid and other payments. This is a 13% increase compared to 2024. The Agriculture Minister,?Kostas?Tsiaras, announced that this year, he would offer cheaper agricultural 'diesel to producers of cotton and wheat and will also provide 160 million Euros in additional assistance for stockbreeders and cotton and grain producers. Tsiaras stated that the government was using all available methods to fix a decade's worth of problems and introduce transparency rules in order to restart the primary sector. Athens has also promised to amend the rules quickly to allow for?full compensation' in future cases of damage to livestock or crops. Bulgaria, Greece's neighbor, said Wednesday that it had filed a formal complaint regarding the blocking of border crossings. This has caused "serious difficulties" for Bulgarian exporters and citizens and has violated EU rules on free movement. EU agriculture ministers meanwhile are meeting in Brussels to discuss the possibility of a free-trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur. The European Commission needs to have a majority of 15 members representing 65% or the EU's population in order to authorize the bloc to sign this deal. However, the European Parliament would need to approve it. Tsiaras stated that the agreement should include "clear, practical safeguard clauses", as well as fair play rules. Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou, Editing by Alexander Smith.

• European shares continue to rise after record-breaking rally, despite tensions

  European shares rose?on?Tuesday, with indexes from Germany and Spain reaching record highs. Investors were confident about the economy despite increasing geopolitical tensions. STOXX 600, the pan-European stock index, ended 2018 with its biggest gain since 2021. This was largely due to falling interest rates and increased defence spending. Analysts say that while returns this year may not be as great, there is still room for growth. Matthew Sherwood is a senior global economist with Economist Intelligence Unit. There's still a cautious optimism. There are also things in motion that support growth. Goldman Sachs increased its 12-month target price for the STOXX600 on Tuesday. The?index rose 0.2% to 0922 GMT a day after it surpassed the 600-point barrier for the first. HEALTHCARE AND ENERGY ARE WINNERS Healthcare index rose 1.4% to its highest level since March of last year. Novo Nordisk, a Danish manufacturer of obesity drugs, led the pack with gains of 5.8%. Eli Lilly's rival, the company has intensified its competition by launching?its Wegovy tablet in the U.S. The energy index increased by 1.2%, and hovered near levels last seen in 2008. On Tuesday, traders will focus on a busy data release schedule. They will examine a range of manufacturing and inflation readings. Joachim Klement is the head of investment strategy for Panmure Liberum. He said, "We expect inflation in the UK and the Euro zone to decrease, allowing room for possible rate cuts." The regional bourses were mostly flat, with the exception of Spain's 'IBEX' and Germany's DAX index, which both hit record highs early in trading. Meanwhile, Italy's benchmark index rose by 0.2% after reaching a new high. The service sector of the largest economy in the Eurozone maintained its solid growth rate in December, despite the fact that the expansion rate slowed down for the second consecutive time. According to preliminary data, the consumer price index in France rose less than anticipated in December. The benchmark stock index was down 0.3%. InPost, a parcel locker company, jumped 18.6% among individual stocks after it announced that it received a proposal indicative regarding the possible acquisition of its entire shares. Adidas fell 6.9% following a Bank of America downgrade to "underperform", from "buy", due to expectations of slower growth in sales. (Reporting and editing by Sherry Phillips in Bengaluru, and Vijay Kishore.)