LIVE MARKETS-Early morning headlines roundup

* European shares seen down slightly

* FT says Barclays (LSE: BARC.L - news) explores potential mergers

May 23 (Reuters) - Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets

brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Danilo Masoni. Reach him on

Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: danilo.masoni.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net

EARLY MORNING HEADLINES ROUNDUP (0553 GMT)

Barclays explores potential mergers with rivals - FT

Rio Tinto (Hanover: CRA1.HA - news) in talks for Grasberg copper stake sale

Swiss bank Julius Baer (LSE: 0QO6.L - news) breaks 400 bln Sfr AuM mark

BT signs four-year extension to football TV production deal - The Telegraph

India's Vedanta hits over 10-mth low as protests against copper plant turn violent

Norway's wealth fund voted in favour of Shell CEO pay, against climate targets

German solar battery maker sonnen secures Shell (LSE: RDSB.L - news) cash to expand

"Referendum" result due on France's big railway shake-up

Global M&A hits record $2 trillion in year

Shell's oil spill dispute with Nigeria's Bodo villagers back in UK court

(Danilo Masoni)

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MORNING CALL: EUROPEAN shares seen slightly lower (0522 GMT)

European shares are set for a slightly negative start today, with CMC Markets (LSE: CMCX.L - news) expecting

London's FTSE to open 19 points lower at 7,858. Frankfurt's DAX is expected to open 20 points

lower at 13,150, while Paris' CAC is seen down 12 points lower at 5,628.

Over in Asia, shares were mostly weak with investors cautious after U.S. President Donald

Trump tempered optimism over progress made so far in trade talks between the world's two largest

economic powers.

(Danilo Masoni)

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