LIVE MARKETS-FTSE futures outperform ahead of BoE

* European shares seen higher

* BoE (Shenzhen: 000725.SZ - news) seen keeping rates steady

* RBS (LSE: RBS.L - news) reaches $4.9 bln US bond probe settlement

May 10 (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

FTSE FUTURES OUTPERFORM AHEAD OF BOE (0614 GMT)

European stock index futures have opened in positive territory, confirming earlier

indications from spreadbetters, with FTSE futures leading the way, up 0.6 percent, ahead of

today's Bank of England policy meeting.

BoE interest rates looks set to stay on hold after unexpectedly weak economic data and

cautious remarks from Governor Mark Carney dashed the chances of what until a few weeks ago

looked like a near-certain increase.

"It is also quite likely that the Bank may well have to guide its growth expectations

lower... Inflation expectations could also be revised lower, which in term could see the pound

come under further pressure," says Michael Hewson, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets (LSE: CMCX.L - news) .

Here's your futures snapshot:

(Danilo Masoni)

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The Bank of England to announce May rate decision at 1100 GMT

HEADLINES ROUNDUP: EYES ON RBS SETTLEMENT, UNICREDIT RESULTS, AXA (Paris: FR0000120628 - news) 'S US IPO (0544 GMT)

Investors will likely be watching shares in RBS after a it reached a multi-billion deal to

settle a U.S. bond probe, while UniCredit (EUREX: DE000A163206.EX - news) could also be in focus after a solid-looking quarterly

update. The IPO of AXA's US arm missed its target, raising $2.75 bln.

Here are the links to these stories and more headlines that could move markets today:

RBS reaches $4.9 billion deal to settle U.S. mortgage bond probe

UniCredit beats forecasts with best Q1 result since 2007

AXA's U.S. arm raises $2.75 bln in IPO, misses target

Rolls-Royce operations chief to leave in streamlining

Altice USA reports quarterly loss due to high programming costs

Brazil's TIM: shares plummet as traders fret over royalty payments

Novartis (IOB: 0QLR.IL - news) calls $1.2 mln deal with Trump lawyer's firm a 'mistake'

EDF Q1 sales up 3.7 pct as nuclear reactors back on line

Enel (LSE: 0NRE.L - news) says Q1 net ordinary profit rises 10 pct

Banco BPM's debt recovery business attracting interest-CEO

Banco BPM Q1 net profit boosted by insurance deal

Randgold ends gold venture with Cradle Arc in Mali

YNAP on track for de-listing after Richemont offer breaches threshold

Italy Tod's expects sales to turn positive in second half of year

(Danilo Masoni)

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MORNING CALL: EUROPEAN SHARES SEEN HIGHER (0525 GMT)

European shares are set for a higher start today with financial spreadbetters expecting

Britain's FTSE to add 0.2 percent, while Germany's DAX is seen rising 0.4

percent and France's CAC gaining 0.3 percent.

Over in Asia, stocks rose with energy shares leading the way as crude oil prices bolted

higher after U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of a nuclear deal with Iran.

(Danilo Masoni)

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