A snapshot of motorcycle and ATV industry share performance across key manufacturers and major global markets at the trading week closure on Friday 10 January 2025. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports.
USA — INTEREST RATE BLUES KNOCK STOCKS
A bumper jobs growth report for December, and its associated higher inflationary threat, pulled the rug out from under any chance of interest rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve any time soon. Equities investors on Wall Street were not amused.
Market indices turned resolutely negative. Both the blue-chip S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 1.9% down on the week. NASDAQ Composite techie treats took the hardest hit, falling by 2.3%. Overall, S&P’s MidCap 400 got off lightly, 1.7% lower at close of play. However, MidCap powersports stocks were a poor bet. Harley-Davidson dropped sharply below the 30-buck marker and its LiveWire electric spin-off took harsher punishment. Indian Motorcycle and ATV giant Polaris was also a notable loser.
| Currency: dollar | Price | Week | Month |
| Harley-Davidson | 27.80 | -7.4% | -17.7% |
| Polaris Industries | 54.19 | -6.3% | -14.1% |
| Textron | 75.59 | -0.2% | -6.6% |
| Niu Technologies | 1.71 | -3.4% | -7.1% |
| LiveWire | 4.51 | -8.9% | -21.4% |
EUROPE — THERE’S ALWAYS HOPE
Despite ragged nerves engendered by a prospective tariff war with the US, leading European market indices perked up remarkably. Frankfurt’s Xetra Dax added 1.6%, even though leading Teutonic automotives with biker sidelines were mixed. In Milan, the FTSE MIB climbed by a more enthusiastic 2.8%, on the back of Italian premier Giorgia Meloni doing a dubious military satellite deal with evil genius Elon Musk. Italian scooter giant Piaggio wasn’t a beneficiary.
In Austria, the Wiener Börse ATX pretty much flatlined, just 0.1% up. KTM parent Pierer Mobility’s fragile Austria-quoted share price dived, as the first creditor deadline in its bankruptcy proceedings loomed without a promising solution.
| Currency: euro | Price | Week | Month |
| BMW | 76.28 | -0.2% | -5.3% |
| Volkswagen | 92.75 | +4.7% | +2.3% |
| Pierer Mobility | 16.60 | -22.1% | +44.3% |
| Piaggio Group | 2.11 | -1.4% | -2.3% |
JAPAN — IN THE TRUMP WAITING ROOM
Tokyo and Osaka’s key Nikkei 225 market index slumped by 1.8%, as Japanese investors pondered on currently unimaginable dangers from the forthcoming US President-Elect. Indigenous biker stocks generally floundered, although Honda shares were still riding high on its planned Nissan takeover.
| Currency: yen | Price | Week | Month |
| Honda | 1528.5 | -0.4% | +18.2% |
| Yamaha | 1298.5 | -7.5% | -6.9% |
| Suzuki | 1769 | -1.2% | -1.4% |
| Kawasaki | 7054 | -3.1% | +10% |
INDIA — NEW YEAR, OLD STORY
Mumbai’s S&P BSE Sensex 30 and NSE Nifty 50 market indices retreated into losses once more, respectively declining by 2.3% and 2.4%, as central bankers refused to cut high anti-inflationary interest rates. India’s five major motorcycle manufacturers continued to shed weekly value. But Royal Enfield parent Eicher managed to hang onto a decent monthly gain.
| Currency: rupee | Price | Week | Month |
| Hero MotoCorp | 4122.20 | -2.8% | -9.9% |
| Bajaj Auto | 8764.00 | -2.2% | -2.9% |
| TVS Motor | 2283.25 | -8% | -9.5% |
| Eicher Motors | 5058.45 | -4.7% | +4.8% |
| Mahindra | 3092.85 | -3.1% | +0.4% |
CHINA — A SAVIOUR EMERGES, OR PERHAPS NOT
The Chinese Yuan-Renminbi currency weakened to a 16-month low on strong US economic data and growing fears over tariffs, despite the People’s Bank of China maintaining a steady fixing rate ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration on 20 January. Stock market indices crumbled against this background, with Shanghai’s SSE Composite and the blue-chip CSI 300 respectively down by 1.3% and 1.1%.
But among the ten listed Chinese motorcycle manufacturers, CFMoto rallied impressively, following an unconfirmed report that the company has offered to invest up to €700m towards restructuring KTM parent Pierer Mobility — dependent on acquiring majority ownership. Considering Pierer Mobility is allegedly in debt to the tune of €1.7bn, there may be an element of wishful thinking involved…
| Currency: yuan | Price | Week | Month |
| Qianjiang | 17.02 | -6.7% | +1.6% |
| Zongshen | 20.99 | -2.1% | -23.7% |
| Sundiro | 3.33 | -3.2% | -11.7% |
| CETC (Jialing) | 12.20 | -4% | -11.3% |
| Lifan | 5.86 | -8.6% | -23.9% |
| Loncin | 8.54 | +3.3% | +8.1% |
| Linhai | 8.28 | +1.3% | -21.2% |
| Guangzhou Auto Group | 8.27 | -3.2% | -15.4% |
| CFMoto | 177.53 | +17.5% | +20.7% |
| Xinri E-Vehicle | 9.73 | -0.2% | -20.2% |