LIVE MARKETS-Futures slide as trade talk results awaited

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

FUTURES SLIDE AS TRADE TALK RESULTS AWAITED (0725 GMT)

Futures are down across the board in Europe, though oil prices having hit a 2019 high -

above $65 a barrel - will help limit losses.

There has been no decision to extend a March 1 U.S. deadline for a trade deal with China,

White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said on Thursday, adding however that the "vibe" in

Beijing is good.

Meanwhile in UK companies reporting, lender RBS (LSE: RBS.L - news) impressed with a bigger than expected

dividend. And in M&A news German internet portal Scout24 (IOB: 0RB8.IL - news) said it would pursue a takeover offer

by a private equity consortium called Pulver BidCo.

Vivendi (LSE: 0IIF.L - news) is seen rising in pre-markets, which traders are putting down to the media giant

saying it's selecting financial advisors for the sale of a stake in Universal Music Group in the

coming weeks.

RBS's 2018 dividend better than expected as profits double

Private equity (IOB: 0QLS.IL - news) consortium bids for Scout24

UK hotel group sees Brexit-led hiring problems

Premier Foods (Frankfurt: A1JWNB - news) shelves Ambrosia sale after bids disappoint

(Helen Reid)

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EARLY MORNING COMPANY NEWS ROUNDUP: ALLIANZ (Swiss: ALV-EUR.SW - news) , VIVENDI, UBISOFT, FINGERPRINT CARDS (LSE: 0RGY.L - news) (0651 GMT)

There's a lot of news to wade through this morning for traders and investors, not least the

latest out of the U.S.-China trade talks: the FT reported the two countries were "scrambling" to

at least produce a memorandum of understanding by the end of Friday.

In corporate news, German insurer Allianz reported in-line profits, and French exchange

operator Euronext (Euronext: ENX.LS - news) said 2018 EBITDA rose. Meanwhile billionaire Vincent Bollore, Vivendi's number

one shareholder, will leave the media giant's board in April in a sign he is further withdrawing

from his businesses.

Results from French video game producer Ubisoft won't be welcomed by investors: the firm cut

its revenue guidance by 5 percent, blaming intense competition and clarifications on IFRS norms.

Sweden's Fingerprint Cards reported an unexpected loss in its Q4 and warned challenging

market conditions would hit sales in the first quarter.

Some M&A is in the air too with sources saying Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba (Berlin: AHLA.BE - news) is in talks

to acquire a stake in the China operations of Germany's Metro (Dusseldorf: 62M.DU - news) .

Here are your early headlines:

Allianz Q4 net profit up 19 percent, in line with expectations

Euronext FY 2018 EBITDA Increases to 354.3 Million Euros

Ubisoft cuts FY sales target amid fierce competition

Alibaba in talks on stake in China operations of Germany's Metro (Amsterdam: ME6.AS - news) - sources

Bayer (IOB: 0P6S.IL - news) stresses drug's tolerability in bid for prostate cancer market

Germany's JAB plans to list unit owning Keurig, Dr Pepper

Bollore (Paris: FR0013201365 - news) to hand over Vivendi to sons as Universal rumours swirl

Fingerprint Cards posts unexpected Q4 operating loss

(Helen Reid)

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EUROPE SET TO SLIP AS CHINA DATA DEALS ANOTHER BLOW (0618 GMT)

European stocks are set to fall according to spreadbetters' calls this morning, after weak

U.S. retail sales data took the wind out of markets yesterday and more weak data from China -

showing factory-gate inflation slowed for a seventh straight month - further sapped investors'

enthusiasm.

Asian stocks fell overnight, retreating from four-month highs after data out of China raised

concerns over deflationary pressures building in the world's second biggest economy.

Data released on Friday showed China's factory-gate inflation slowed for a seventh straight

month in January to its weakest pace since September 2016 amid cooling domestic demand.

Financial spreadbetters at IG (Frankfurt: A0EARV - news) expect Frankfurt's DAX to open 26 points lower at 11,063 and

Paris' CAC to open 9 points lower at 5,054.

They see London's FTSE opening flat at 7,197 in a tepid reaction to yet another Brexit

defeat - albeit a symbolic one - for Prime Minister Theresa May in Parliament.

(Helen Reid)

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(Reporting by Helen Reid, Danilo Masoni, Julien Ponthus)