LIVE MARKETS-What you need to know before Europe opens

* European shares seen lower

* STOXX set for third straight week of losses

* Deutsche downplays idea of Commerzbank (Xetra: CBK100 - news) deal

* BT CEO to step down

June 8 (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

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE EUROPE OPENS (0650 GMT)

European shares are expected to open lower today with futures pointing to declines of

0.6-1.1 percent. The STOXX 600 regional benchmark is on track for its third weekly loss in a row

as expectations of tighter monetary conditions, renewed strength in the euro and growing

political worries take their toll.

Expectations the ECB could signal plans to wind down its bond buying programme as early as

next week could continue to support banking stocks, as well as fresh reports about possible

dealmaking in the sector.

Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) in Deutsche Bank (IOB: 0H7D.IL - news) and Commerzbank are seen rising as much as 2 percent after Bloomberg

reported that top shareholders had been consulted about a potential tie-up between the two

German lenders.

Other stock movers: BT's CEO Gavin Patterson to step down (+1% pre-mkt); Hermes to replace

LafargeHolcim (LSE: 0QKY.L - news) in France's CAC 40 stock index from June 18 (+1% pre-mkt); Thyssenkrupp (IOB: 0O1C.IL - news) examines

sale of naval vessels business - source (+0.5% pre-mkt); Sports betting passes New Jersey

legislature, moves to governor; Novo Nordisk (LSE: 0QIU.L - news) considers laying-off up to 3,000 staff - Danish

paper Borsen; Lloyds sells Standard Life Aberdeen stake

(Danilo Masoni)

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EARLY MORNING HEADLINE ROUNDUP (0554 GMT)

Deutsche Bank sounds out investors about Commerzbank deal-Bloomberg

Deutsche Bank says chairman sees no need to bring up Commerzbank deal [nL5N1T96HL

Novo Nordisk considers laying-off up to 3,000 staff - Danish paper Borsen

Hermes to replace LafargeHolcim in France's CAC 40 stock index from June 18

Sports betting passes New Jersey legislature, moves to governor

RBS CEO says wants to buy bank's shares back from UK government

Lloyds sells Standard Life Aberdeen stake

Thyssenkrupp examines sale of naval vessels business - source

Bosch (BSE: BOSCHLTD.BO - news) might sell packaging technology unit - FAZ

BPER CEO says fighting pressure to cut bad debt with collection unit sale

Julius Baer (LSE: 0QO6.L - news) looks to fixed price system to bolster returns

MEDIA-SocGen (Paris: FR0000130809 - news) executives ordered Libor rigging, US prosecutors believed- FT

BP complains to Canada regulator about Enbridge (Dusseldorf: EN3.DU - news) oil pipeline actions

Ex-Volkswagen CEO summoned to testify in emissions lawsuit-Bild

Geordie Greig named as neweditor of Daily Mail

(Danilo Masoni)

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MORNING CALL: EUROPEAN SHARES SEEN LOWER (0524 GMT)

European shares are expected to start the session in the red with financial spreadbetters

expecting London's FTSE to open 24 points lower at 7,680. Frankfurt's DAX is set to open 98

points lower at 12,713 and Paris' CAC to open 30 points lower at 5,418.

Over in Asia, shares stepped back from a 2-1/2 month high as risk appetite soured on bets

that Europe's massive monetary stimulus was nearing an end, compounded by uncertainty over trade

relations ahead of a key meeting of global leaders.

(Danilo Masoni)

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