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LIVE MARKETS-Earnings ahoy!

* European stocks futures rise

* U.S. inflation in focus

* Asian shares mixed

Feb 14 (Reuters) - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets

brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Julien Ponthus. Reach him on

Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: julien.ponthus.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net

EARNINGS AHOY! (0746 GMT)

On a busy day of earnings, especially for the banking sector, here's a round-up of the key

headlines on the company and macro front so far this morning:

Credit Agricole (Swiss: ACA.SW - news) says its French retail bank has reached turning point

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French bank Natixis (LSE: 0IHK.L - news) posts surprise rise in quarterly profit

Credit Suisse (IOB: 0QP5.IL - news) posts third straight annual loss on US tax writedown

Steel unit boosts Thyssenkrupp (IOB: 0O1C.IL - news) profit ahead of Tata Steel (BSE: TATASTEEL.BO - news) tie-up

Salmon farmer Marine Harvest (LSE: 0OAW.L - news) to cut costs as earnings, dividend drop

H&M sees profit rise in 2018 as online sales grow

Haldex Q4 core profit rises, says heavy investment to dent 2018 margins

Clariant (IOB: 0QJS.IL - news) 2017 profit misses estimates after turbulent year

Dutch chemical firm DSM's Q4 profit beats expectations

Bilfinger (Amsterdam: BG6.AS - news) sees further organic growth in orders in 2018

Food group Danone (LSE: 0KFX.L - news) to sell 14 percent stake in Japan's Yakult

Moncler launches 'Genius' creative hub in new product strategy

BUZZ-EDP: Possible takeover target for Gas Natural (Frankfurt: 38G.F - news) - CS

BUZZ-Ferrari (Xetra: 30092157.DE - news) : SUV and EV strategy adds risk - MS

German exports drive solid growth in fourth quarter 2017

Coca Cola HBC AG Posts 4.9 Pct Rise In ‍Reported FY Net Sales Revenue

Sky (Frankfurt: 893517 - news) wins bulk of Premier League rights as value slips

British construction group Galliford Try (Stuttgart: 0GF.SG - news) looks to raise 150 mln stg

Spreadbetter Plus500 sees 2018 revenue ahead of market expectations

(Kit Rees)

*****

WHAT'S ON THE RADAR AHEAD OF THE OPEN (0730 GMT)

European markets are expected to open in positive territory but all eyes are really on the

U.S. inflation data, which will come in early afternoon and will determine the fate of this

session.

In the meantime, a steady flow of corporate results and M&A will give traders enough to gnaw

on while waiting for the big numbers.

In the banking sector, Credit Suisse posted a third straight annual loss but it was smaller

than expected. Credit Agricole saw a 33 percent jump in quarterly profit while French investment

bank Natixis last evening reported an unexpected rise in quarterly net profit.

For cyclicals, Thyssenkrupp Q1 operating profit is up 35, Dutch chemical firm DSM's Q4

profit beat expectations and Clariant 2017 profit missed estimates after a turbulent year.

Swedish brake systems maker Haldex (LSE: 0O93.L - news) reported a rise in fourth-quarter core earnings but said

investments in development and expansion in North America and China would hold back

profitability in 2018.

M&A: Danone to sell 14 percent stake in Japan's Yakult.

In the UK, Sky won the bulk of Premier League rights.

(Julien Ponthus)

*****

EUROPE TO OPEN IN POSITIVE TERRITORY, FUTURES INDICATE (0705 GMT)

Looks like European bourses are set to open on a positive note, but of course, the rest of

the session is largely expected to depend on the U.S. inflation data, which is to be published

at 1330 GMT.

(Julien Ponthus)

*****

A "POWELL PUT"? (0657 GMT)

The incoming U.S. inflation data is sure keeping markets on their toes and it's interesting

to note that the new Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's first words at a ceremonial

swearing-in was that the central bank would keep watching for financial stability risks.

"We will remain alert to any developing risks to financial stability", Powell said on the

heels of a market rout that shaved 10 percent from the value of major U.S. stock indexes.

A lot of analysts are still trying to figure out how Powell would react to a melt-down and

wondering whether there would be such as thing as a "Powell Put", in the same way that the

so-called "Greenspan Put" came to the rescue in 1987.

On Monday, Stéphane Déo, strategist for LBPAM, asked himself whether the "Greenspan Put" had

disappeared and what to make of the old saying recently used by Bank of America Merrill Lynch

analysts: "Markets stop panicking when central banks start panicking".

In the meantime and as far as we are concerned today, as said Greg McKenna, chief market

strategist at CFD and FX provider AxiTrader: "Even (Taiwan OTC: 6436.TWO - news) a slightly higher number could set the cat

among the pigeons given the late cycle stimulus the Trump Administration is pumping into the

U.S. economy".

(Julien Ponthus)

*****

MORNING CALL: SLIGHTLY UP AHEAD OF U.S. INFLATION (0615 GMT)

Good morning and welcome to Live Markets.

Early indications from spreadbetters point to Europe opening slightly in positive territory

after a mixed session in Asia. All eyes however are on the U.S. inflation data which could

soothe, or inflame, fears of faster rate hikes globally.

London's FTSE is seen opening 15 points higher, Frankfurt's DAX 46 points higher and Paris

CAC up 17 points.

(Julien Ponthus)

*****

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