LIVE MARKETS-Morning headline round-up: Shire stands out
* European stocks futures open lower
* Wall St falls after Caterpillar (LSE: 0Q18.L - news) , Alphabet (Xetra: ABEA.DE - news) results
* Stocks in Asia also weak
LONDON, April 25 (Reuters) - Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity
markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Kit Rees. Reach her on
Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: kit.rees.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
MORNING HEADLINE ROUND-UP
Among the flow of Q1 earnings, the accepted $64 billion offer from Japan's Takeda
Pharmaceutical stands out on the front page this morning.
Also, to watch in the banking sector:
Credit Suisse (IOB: 0QP5.IL - news) posts Q1 profit beat as revamp hits home stretch
Nordea Q1 profit tops forecast, cautious on revenue guidance
Lloyds Bank just misses forecasts with $2.23 bln first quarter profit
Income funds turn sights on UK banks as end of PPI saga draws closer
U.S. senators push banks for information on Russian 'oligarchs'
ANALYSIS-After Carney surprise, chance of May BoE rate hike down but not out
For the Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL - news) supply chain saga:
STMicro Q1 profits grow, sees "healthy demand" in second-half
Apple shares drop on more warnings from iPhone supply chain
Earnings reports in other sectors:
Statoil Q1 lags slightly, uses cash to reduce debt ratio
Aluminium maker Hydro to miss cost target amid Brazil woes
Kloeckner & Co raises profit outlook on higher steel prices
Linde (IOB: 0H3X.IL - news) beats profit expectations, confirms full-year outlook
Clariant (IOB: 0QJS.IL - news) posts Q1 sales beat as catalyst business
Telefonica Germany confirms guidance as mobile revenues edge
Gucci craze keeps sales at luxury firm Kering (LSE: 0IIH.L - news) booming
(Julien Ponthus)
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EUROPEAN STOCKS FUTURES DIP (0606 GMT)
It's looking like it's going to be a downbeat session with stocks futures heading south. On
the other hand, index moves could remain range-bound given that attention is going to be on the
flurry of earnings reports this morning.
Here's your futures snapshot:
(Kit Rees)
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RISING BOND YIELDS - TROUBLE FOR EQUITIES? (0553 GMT)
As the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury holds close to the psychologically-significant 3
percent level, this may prompt investors to reconsider their allocations to equities, especially
those sectors which pay relatively high dividends whose yield could now be eclipsed by bonds.
For analysts at Credit Suisse's wealth management division, equities still retain their
appeal even if they do see bond yields gradually going higher.
"Solid economic growth should see policy normalization continue, thereby keeping yields on
an upward path. On the other hand, spikes in risk aversion and moderately rising inflation will
likely limit the pace of rise in bond yields," analysts at Credit Suisse WM said in a note.
"This gradual climb in yields is not likely to threaten our overweight equity stance."
Another worry is whether this rise in yields will lead to a soft spell in equity markets, or
a correction.
"The market’s reaction is decidedly more measured this time. Not only have stocks stayed out
of the correction zone so far, flows into the yen (the risk off trade) are nowhere near levels
seen two months ago," Jasper Lawler, head of research at London Capital Group, said.
(Kit Rees)
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MORNING CALL: EUROPEAN SHARES SEEN OPENING LOWER (0528 GMT)
Good morning. European shares are expected to open lower this morning, according to
financial spreadbetters, as worries over rising bond yields persist while weakness in tech held
back U.S. indexes.
Spreadbetters see Britain's FTSE opening 53 points lower, Germany's DAX falling 111 points
and France's CAC down 42 points.
Results from industrial heavyweight Caterpillar and tech giant Alphabet prompted drops in
both stocks in the U.S. - it just goes to show how little room there is for disappointment.
Overnight in Asia equities were also downbeat.
(Kit Rees)
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(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Helen Reid, Kit Rees and Julien Ponthus)