LIVE MARKETS-DAX futures lag Europe on autos, trade worries

June 21 - Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to

you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Helen Reid. Reach her on Messenger to

share your thoughts on market moves: helen.reid.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net

DAX FUTURES LAG EUROPE ON AUTOS, TRADE WORRIES (0612 GMT)

Germany's DAX futures are lagging European peers in early trade, reflecting the likely drop

in autos stocks driven by Daimler (IOB: 0NXX.IL - news) 's profit warning.

"Bears will point out this is the first physical evidence of Trump trade war," says one

trader.

(Helen Reid)

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EARLY MORNING HEADLINE ROUND-UP (0536 GMT)

Autos will be in focus today again after Daimler late on Wednesday issued a profit warning,

saying new import tariffs on cars exported from the U.S. to China would hurt sales of

high-margin Mercedes (Xetra: 710000 - news) -Benz sports cars - one of the first companies to directly factor in the

impact of tariffs.

Separately Chinese-owned Volvo Cars warned higher tariffs could undermine its plans to hire

up to 4,000 workers at a new car assembly plant in South Carolina.

Europe's autos sector hit a new 7-month low yesterday and is likely to be under further

pressure today.

In M&A news, Altice (Other OTC: ATSVF - news) is selling stakes in French and Portuguese telecom towers, a move which

could be welcomed by investors keen to see its debt pile shrink, while Thailand's PTT (Stuttgart: 1306682.SG - news) is set to

buy power firm Glow Energy from Engie (LSE: 0LD0.L - news) for $2.98 billion.

Daimler sees lower 2018 profit, blames trade war, emissions clamp-down

Volvo Cars CEO says auto tariffs threaten jobs at new U.S. plant

Altice selling stakes in French, Portuguese telecom towers to cut debt

Thai PTT to pay $4 billion for Glow Energy as Engie exits coal

Telecom Italia (Amsterdam: TI6.AS - news) keen to discuss fiber-to-the-home tie-up with Open Fiber

Deutsche Bank (IOB: 0H7D.IL - news) to pay $205 mln to settle NY currency rigging charges

Saudi bourse will be ready for capital inflows after MSCI EM inclusion

(Helen Reid)

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MORNING CALL: FADE IN TRADE WAR TALK LIKELY TO SUPPORT EUROPEAN STOCKS (0517 GMT)

European shares are seen rising quite strongly at the open after modest gains in Asia thanks

to a lull in trade war talk, while oil markets are nervy ahead of tomorrow's meeting of the OPEC

production cartel.

Asian shares edged higher on a respite in protectionist rhetoric from the U.S. and China, as

well as speculation the Chinese central bank would deliver more stimulus to the economy.

Wall Street had also made gains in the previous session with the unstoppable Nasdaq (Frankfurt: 813516 - news) posting

a record high close.

Oil prices will likely drive stocks today too ahead of Friday's meeting between OPEC and

other big producers including Russia. Crude is declining slightly as tensions grow in the market

with Iran signaling support for a small rise in crude output.

Spreadbetters expect the FTSE to open 49 points higher at 7,676 points, the DAX to open 66

points higher at 12,761 and the CAC 40 to open 27 points higher at 5,400.

(Helen Reid)

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(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Helen Reid, Kit Rees and Julien Ponthus)