A snapshot of bike and ATV industry share performance across key manufacturers and major global markets at the trading week closure on Friday 6 January 2023. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports.
USA — NEW YEAR OPTIMISM
Investors returning to Wall Street in the New Year swiftly overcame an initial downbeat mood and stocks progressively rallied on signs of slowing inflation. By the first weekend of 2023, all New York market indices finished firmly positive. The blue-chip S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average made respective 1.4% and 1.5% gains. The Nasdaq Composite closed 1% up and S&P’s MidCap 400 rose by 2.5%. A clean sweep of both petrolhead and electric biker listings delivered share price improvements.
| Currency: dollar | Price | Week | Month |
| Harley-Davidson | 43.83 | +5.4% | -2.9% |
| Polaris Industries | 103.41 | +2.4% | -1.6% |
| Textron | 71.85 | +1.5% | +0.2% |
| Ideanomics (Energica) | 0.17 | +6.3% | -19% |
| Niu Technologies | 5.25 | +0.4% | -9.6% |
| LiveWire | 5.21 | +7.4% | -10.2% |
EUROPE — INFLATION RETREATS
Annualised inflation figures during December in France, Germany and Spain undershot expectations, boosting hopes that eurozone consumer price growth has peaked. Sentiment was further lifted by falling wholesale energy prices as unseasonably warm weather across much of Europe as the New Year dawned cut gas demand.
Major stock market indices leapt in response, led by a surge in automotive shares. Frankfurt’s Xetra Dax put on 4.9%, outpaced by a 6.2% rise for the Borsa Italiana’s FTSE MIB in Milan.
| Currency: euro | Price | Week | Month |
| BMW | 89.53 | +7.4% | +5.9% |
| Volkswagen | 160.10 | +8.4% | -9.9% |
| Pierer Mobility | 70.00 | +3.4% | +11.1% |
| Piaggio Group | 2.97 | +6.1% | +2.4% |
JAPAN — BLAME GAME
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 market index repeated the previous week’s 0.5% loss, as the yen continued to be seen as over-priced by disgruntled Japanese exporters. BoJ central bankers, who are responsible, have yet to fall on their swords. Among indigenous motorcycling majors, only Honda managed to buck this losing streak — probably because the vast majority of its production and therefore costs base is safely offshored.
| Currency: yen | Price | Week | Month |
| Honda | 3123 | +3% | -4.1% |
| Yamaha | 2988 | -0.7% | -9.9% |
| Suzuki | 4258 | -0.3% | -8.7% |
| Kawasaki | 2937 | -5% | -2.3% |
INDIA — ROOM FOR GLOOM
Indian optimism didn’t survive the New Year celebrations. Mumbai’s BSE Sensex 30 market index plunged into red ink by 1.5%. Most motorcycle manufacturers remained marginally positive, except for Norton owner TVS, which took a spanking. December domestic bike sales figures for Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj Auto, revealed during the week, were poor. Presumably TVS numbers are expected to be worse.
| Currency: rupee | Price | Week | Month |
| Hero MotoCorp | 2742.55 | +0.1% | -0.3% |
| Bajaj Auto | 3642.25 | +0.7% | +0.7% |
| TVS Motor | 1024.50 | -5.6% | -1.1% |
| Eicher Motors | 3251.05 | +0.7% | -3.2% |
| Mahindra | 1264.90 | +1.3% | N/A |
CHINA — WHAT VIRUS?
China’s remorseless re-opening of its economy, now based on pretending Covid no longer exists, proceeded at pace. Investors piled back into stock trading with vigour, pushing up market indices for a second consecutive week. Shanghai’s SSE Composite and the blue-chip CSI 300 covering both Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges posted respective 2.2% and 2.8% advances.
The eleven listed Chinese motorcycle producers added value without exception. Stars of the show were Benelli parent Qianjiang and Sunra owner Xinri E-Vehicle, both boasting double-digit percentage share price increases.
| Currency: yuan | Price | Week | Month |
| Qianjiang | 20.77 | +12.4% | +4.1% |
| Zongshen | 6.16 | +3.7% | -3% |
| Sundiro | 2.36 | +0.9% | -3.7% |
| CETC (Jialing) | 13.82 | +1.2% | -10.2% |
| Lifan | 4.04 | +4.7% | -4.3% |
| Loncin | 5.05 | +3.9% | +0.4% |
| Linhai | 8.77 | +0.3% | -16.2% |
| Guangzhou Auto | 11.22 | +1.7% | -7.3% |
| CFMoto | 115.92 | +3% | -0.6% |
| Xinri E-Vehicle | 20.50 | +13.3% | +5% |
| Currency:Â HK dollar | Price | Week | Month |
| Jianshe | 4.97 | +0.8% | -1.8% |