LIVE MARKETS-European futures edge higher

Jan 24 - 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

EUROPEAN FUTURES EDGE HIGHER (0714 GMT)

Futures for the FTSE 100 and euro zone benchmarks are inching higher, indicating stocks will

make an attempt at gains this morning, but how long they will hold onto them is unclear given

the myriad worries stalking investors at the moment and an ECB meeting which could be eventful.

"Expect a focus on forward guidance and reinvestment/expansion plans of the LTRO/TLTROs,"

writes Chris Bailey, European strategist at Raymond James.

"Tone all-important here as the market is currently continuing to push out the date of an

ECB rate rise."

UK results are starting to come in with AIM darling Fevertree in focus as well as, among

larger stocks, asset manager St James' Place and miner Anglo American (LSE: AAL.L - news) ones to watch.

(Helen Reid)

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EUROPEAN HEADLINES TO WATCH: STMICRO, TOD'S, GJENSIDIGE (0652 GMT)

It's the first bumper Thursday of Europe's earnings season today and there's no shortage of

news both from company results and ongoing sagas like Renault (LSE: 0NQF.L - news) 's leadership, no-deal Brexit

preparations and emissions lawsuits.

STMicroelectronics (LSE: 0INB.L - news) , Tod's, and Gjensidige are among those reporting today.

The chipmaker will be particularly closely watched after the tech sector came out of favour

late last year as the U.S.-China trade war ramped up a clash over technology and IP. STMicro

said it saw Q1 sales falling by about 21 percent, joining peers predicting a slowdown.

Italian fashion group Tod's reported a fall in like-for-like sales as the luxury sector

suffers from slowing economic growth in Europe and China. Tod's blamed a worsening of

performance in Italy and the rest of Europe.

Norwegian insurer Gjensidige said its 2018 was "significantly impacted by extraordinary

weather conditions" and that even when adjusting for these, it was "not satisfied" with its

results.

We'll see the next step in the Carlos Ghosn saga today with Renault's board meeting to pick

a successor.

Airbus adds to a long list of companies sounding the alarm about a no-deal Brexit, with

Chief Executive Tom Enders warning in a video released on the planemaker's website that it could

shift future wing-building out of Britain in the absence of a smooth exit.

And lawyers suing Fiat Chryself in a U.S. case over excess emissions are seeking more than

$100 million.

Here's your sweep of headlines:

Airbus CEO sees 'harmful decisions' for British presence in a no-deal Brexit

Renault board meets to choose successor to Ghosn

Lawyers suing Fiat Chrysler in U.S. diesel case seek over $100 mln

Tod's like-for-like sales fall 3 pct in 2018

STMicro sees Q1 net revenues sink by 21 pct from previous quarter

Activist target Pernod boosts board independence with new role

Denmark's DSV (LSE: 0JN9.L - news) to keep hunting big targets after Panalpina - CEO

Elior Group Q1 Consolidated Revenue Increases To 1.75 Billion Euros

(Helen Reid)

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SUBDUED TRADING TO CONTINUE AS INVESTORS EYE ECB (0618 GMT)

Spreadbetters don't expect any fireworks this morning from European shares, but a slew of

earnings reports will keep trading busy at least at the stock level.

Today's ECB meeting is also eyed as a potential catalyst for markets which have seen subdued

trading the past few days.

"The first ECB meeting of the year (today) is unlikely to lead to any material changes to

communication or forward guidance," Societe Generale (Swiss: 519928.SW - news) economists write, "although the risk

assessment should move further to the downside."

"The state of the economy is of immediate concern for the ECB at the start of the year,"

they add.

Asian shares were subdued overnight as political uncertainty in the United States and

worries about weakening global economic growth left investors wary of riskier assets.

Financial spreadbetters at IG (Frankfurt: A0EARV - news) expect London's FTSE to open 3 points lower at 6,840,

Frankfurt's DAX to open 9 points lower at 11,062 and Paris' CAC to open 2 points lower at 4,838.

(Helen Reid)

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(Reporting by Helen Reid, Danilo Masoni, Julien Ponthus and Josephine Mason)