LIVE MARKETS-China's latest trade move: huuuuge concession or empty gesture?

* European stocks rise on trade optimism,, ECB stimulus; STOXX 600 up 0.2%

* Rotation into laggards continues, with cars and banks gaining

* Sterling rallies, knocking FTSE 100, buoying UK domestic stocks

* Credit Suisse upgrades UK equities to "overweight" in dollar terms Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Josephine Mason. Reach her on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: josephine.mason.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net

CHINA'S LATEST TRADE MOVE: HUUUUGE CONCESSION OR EMPTY GESTURE? (1024 GMT)

To quote U.S. President Trump, China has just made a huuuuuuuge concession to the United States by dropping additional tariffs on agricultural products, including soybeans and pork. Soyabean is the biggest agricultural U.S. export to China.

The news came after Trump on Wednesday announced a delay in the increase in tariffs on some Chinese goods by two weeks, China exempted some U.S. drugs and other goods from punitive duties and perhaps more significantly sources told Reuters Chinese importers have scooped up at least 10 cargoes, the country's most significant purchases since at least June.

To be sure, Beijing's hands are tied a bit - the country's demand for soybeans has been under pressure because millions of pigs that would normally gobble up beans are being culled as the country struggles to curb African swine fever (ASF) across the world's largest hog herd.

There's also no sign that Beijing will drop the existing tariffs on beans and pork. China had imposed additional tariffs of 25% on U.S. agricultural products including soybeans and pork in July 2018. It raised tariffs on soybeans by a further 5% and on pork by a further 10% on Sept. 1.

But it's a big gesture of goodwill as the world's top two economies prepare for the next round of trade talks. Lower-level U.S. and Chinese officials are expected to meet next week in Washington before talks between senior trade negotiators in early October.

It will likely help U.S. hog and bean prices, which will placate Trump who is keen to keep farmers, who are a big part of his support base, on side ahead of the 2020 election.

And yet stocks didn't really move on the news this morning. Germany's DAX is up 0.5% and STOXX 600 is up 0.2%.

Trade optimism was also helping gains even before the headline crossed. It could also be a sign of fatigue around headlines on the U.S.-China trade talks - investors are suffering from a bit of whiplash after much tooing and froing overnight.

One dealer also notes that the market may be running out of puff after the decent run-up this week.

"How many times have the trade thaws totally refrozen and caught people offside time and time again," he asks. "Also, (hedge funds) have been killed on the value/momentum/growth unwind this week. I imagine long onlys haven't been well positioned either. So risk appetite is muted."

The chart below shows how the trade war has hurt U.S. farm exports:

(Josephine Mason)

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ROTATION CONTINUES IN EUROPE (0738 GMT)

European stocks are slightly higher in early deals as investors pile into banks and auto-related sectors as the rotation into this year's laggards that's roiled equities over the past week continues, offsetting pressure on utilities to food & beverage sectors.

The pan European STOXX 600 is up 0.1%, extending the winning streak into a fourth day.

Euro-zone banks are up as much as 1.4%, recovering from the lacklustre reception to the ECB's stimulus measures yesterday that saw the central bank pledge to drop deposit rates to help mitigate the impact of negative interest rates.

Car parts makers Faurecia and Valeo are getting a boost from a generally positive mood around U.S.-China trade talks. Among other individual moves, Bollore is the top gainer on the STOXX 600 after its results.

Credit Suisse turns bullish on UK equities, especially on companies that have international exposure.

(Josephine Mason)

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HAVE INVESTORS HAD THEIR FILL FOR THE WEEK? (0657 GMT)

It's been quite a rollercoaster week and the stocks rally may be flagging.

European stock futures are inching ever so slightly higher in early deals this morning as investors continue to dip into riskier assets amid hopes that the ECB's stimulus measures will shore up the struggling euro-zone economy and after positive noises over U.S.-China trade talks.

Gains are meagre and DAX and FTSE futures look vulnerable though in a sign that investors may have had their fill after pretty decent gains, with major indices set for a fourth straight weekly gain. Technically, the major indices are approaching overbought territory.

It's relatively quiet on the corporate news front.

Weaker-than-expected revenue from Broadcom Inc and its forecast that demand for microchips has hit a bottom and would remain at current levels may cast a bit of a pall over semiconductors. Broadcom shares fell after the closing bell overnight.

The outlook will underscore concerns that the downturn triggered in part by restrictions on Huawei that's hurt the sector this year will last longer than expected.

The London Stock Exchange's remains in focus as board prepares to meet to decide on the Hong Kong bourse's surprise $39 billion takeover proposal. After pouring cold water on the deal, speculation is stirring in the market about a potential counterbid or the potential for a sweetener from Hong Kong that may boost the stock exchange's shares today.

The shares hit record highs on news of the Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing move.

Here are your major headlines so far this morning:

Climate-change activists' plan to disrupt Heathrow with drones frustratednL5N2640KO]

Deutsche Bank is first to settle bond-rigging lawsuit, amid federal probe

EQT sets price range for 1.2 bln-1.3 bln euro Stockholm share listing

Buyout consortium still shy of squeeze-out level in Alpiq offer

British Airways cancels flights on Sept. 27 due to strike

Telecom Italia chairman Conti says considering stepping down

Diageo unions demand 5% pay rise as they prepare for strikes -source

Woodford listed fund says administrator to cut valuation in another of its holdings

Italy's Elisabetta Franchi fashion label to list in Milan in reverse takeover

Telecom Italia may discuss savings shares' conversion at Sept. 26 board meeting

Fraport: More Than 6.9 Million Passengers In August, +1.7%

ECB's tiered rate is cold comfort for euro zone banks

(Josephine Mason)

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TRADE AND QE SET TO EXTEND EUROPEAN GAINS (0522 GMT)

European stocks are expected to rise for a fourth straight session after briefly scaling seven-week peaks yesterday in the wake of the ECB's dovish monetary policy measures and as investors' appetite for risk increases after positive signals from Washington over talks with Beijing to end the long-running trade spat.

It's been hard to keep up with the back and forth over trade talks - a report that the U.S. President was considering an interim trade deal with China was denied, but the market mood has been given a boost after the White House said it would delay a round of tariffs on Chinsese goods by two weeks.

And then overnight Trump told reporters he would indeed consider an interim deal but would rather reach a larger agreement on all issues - that goes well beyond trade to cover very sensitive (for Beijing) issues like IP protocols.

Still the expectations of more stimulus in the euro zone and general optimism (no bad news on trade) have put both the euro-zone index and pan European STOXX 600 on track to close out another weekly gain, its fourth in a row.

Chinese markets are closed for the Mid-Autumn festival holiday, although on Monday we get industrial production and retail sales data.

(Josephine Mason)

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(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Josephine Mason and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)