LIVE MARKETS-Eyes on SAP and more earnings updates

* European shares seen opening slightly higher

* STOXX 600 ended yesterday at Jan 2018 levels

* Trade optimism lifts Asian shares near July peak 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

EYES ON SAP AND MORE EARNINGS UPDATES (0656 GMT)

Turning to the corporate front, SAP is likely to be on the watch-list after the German business software group said it would return an extra 1.5 billion euros to shareholders next year, while there are also a few results including from Hugo Boss and Vonovia to digest.

The German fashion house took a hit from falling sales in the U.S. and Hong Kong but said it expects sales and operating profit to rise in Q4, while Vonovia, Germany's biggest residential property firm, posted a positive outlook for 2020.

Here's your early morning headlines roundup:

SAP to return 1.5 bln euros to shareholders in 2020

Hugo Boss predicts recovery after Hong Kong hit

Vonovia forecasts 7% growth in 2020 operating earnings

Adecco Q3 revenue drops as slowdown weighs

Dutch DSM's Q3 core profit rises 9% despite weak demand in China

Evonik confirms 2019 guidance despite gloomy economy, weaker Q3

Oerlikon Q3 results miss estimates amid tough market conditions

ArcelorMittal to hand Ilva plant back to Italian state over legal row

Norwegian Air to sell six aircraft, boosting cash by $55 mln

Watchdog warns UK fund managers to avoid Woodford liquidity trap

Boeing's MAX likely to return to European service in Q1 - regulator

Santander buys 1.3 bln euro Nordics car loan portfolio from Ford

(Danilo Masoni)

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TRADE DEAL OPTIMISM TO LIFT EUROPE FURTHER (0634 GMT)

European shares are expected to rise slightly at the open today as trade optimism continues to lift spirits and after the STOXX 600 regional benchmark closed at its highest since Jan 2018.

People familiar with the talks told Reuters that China is pushing Trump to remove more tariffs imposed in September as part of a "phase one" trade deal, while the Ft earlier reported that Washington House was considering whether to roll back the Sept. 1 tariffs.

Spreadbetters at IG expect London's FTSE to open 17 points higher at 7,387, Frankfurt's DAX to open 7 points higher at 13,143 and Paris' CAC to open 14 points higher at 5,839.

(Danilo Masoni)

***** (Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Joice Alves, Julien Ponthus and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)