LIVE MARKETS-ECB policymakers, earnings in focus

Feb 15 - 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

ECB POLICYMAKERS, EARNINGS IN FOCUS (0635 GMT)

After yesterday's U.S. inflation data, European investors will be focusing on, among other

things, speeches by ECB policymakers Praet, Mersch and Lautenschlaeger.

"We think they might signal that the recent market turbulence is not a source of concern

given the strength of the current expansion," write Societe Generale (Swiss: 519928.SW - news) analysts. "They are also

likely to reiterate that the asset purchase programme will continue until September this year

and that what happens beyond then is entirely data dependent."

A heavy slate of earnings today to keep traders and investors occupied as well: Airbus

announces it's taking a 1.3 billion euros charge on its A400M military plane, clouding

its better-than-expected profits, while budget airline Norwegian Air reports a bigger

than expected Q4 loss. Other big companies reporting today include Nestle (Swiss: NESN.VX - news) and Capgemini.

In other results:

Schneider Electric (EUREX: SND1.EX - news) ends 2017 on high note despite currency headwinds

Straumann FY revenue hit $1.08 bln on higher sales

Insurer NN Group's Q4 profit jumps on Delta Lloyd (Euronext: DL.NX - news) takeover

(Helen Reid)

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MORNING CALL: INFLATION? WHAT INFLATION? (0616 GMT)

Good morning and welcome to Live Markets.

European stocks are called to open strongly higher today, following the lead of Asian

markets which gained after Wall Street shrugged off a spike in inflation many had feared would

derail equities once again.

Asian shares rose overnight after U.S. stocks took the inflation data in their stride, with

the Dow Jones up 1 percent and the S&P 500 up 1.3 percent. Bonds plunged, however, as Treasury

yields jumped, in anticipation of more rapid U.S. interest rate hikes.

Currency movements could colour European trading today, with the euro hitting a 10-day high

against the dollar as the greenback suffered further losses.

Spreadbetters call the DAX 132 points higher at 12,470.9, the CAC 40 up 50 points at

5,215.2, and the FTSE 100 35 points higher at 7,248.8.

(Helen Reid)

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