LIVE MARKETS-Opening snapshot: chips are down

* STOXX 600 down 0.4% * Tech stocks down 1%, set for worst day in 2 weeks * Chipmakers hit by Broadcom warning * Kier down 4.8% after Times report on possible housebuilding unit sale June 14 - Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Josephine Mason. Reach her on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: josephine.mason.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net OPENING SNAPSHOT: CHIPS ARE DOWN (0723 GMT) Semiconductor stocks are leading the charge lower in early deals as investors digest the repercussions for the broader sector of Broadcom's revenue warning overnight - that much-hoped-for H2 recovery probably ain't going to happen. Infineon, STMicro, Dialog Semiconductor and AMS are all down between 2.5 and 4.7%. It's also fanned wider worries about the impact of Washington's conflict with Beijing, and dragged the benchmark STOXX 600 and all the major bourses into the red. Weaker-than-expected industrial output data from China showing the lowest reading in more than 17 years is not helping sentiment. The only sectors in positive territory are utilities, benefiting from their safe haven characteristics, and oil & gas, boosted by the higher crude prices after yesterday's tanker attacks. Stocks are still up on the week though and have had a strong run so far this month - the STOXX 600 is up 2.7% - on hopes the Fed will act to counter a slowing global economy due to the escalating trade war with China. Caution ahead of the Fed meeting next week and the G20 summit at the end of the month may continue to limit investors' appetite for risk in the coming weeks. (Josephine Mason) ***** STOCK FUTURES REVERSE GEAR (0658 GMT) Broadcom's warning overnight that the U.S. ban on Huawei and the broader U.S.-China trade conflict will hurt FY revenues is casting a pall over European stocks futures, which have reversed early gains and fallen into the red. The news from the first chipmaker to disclose the impact of the Huawei sanctions will reignite worries, brushed aside in recent days as investors have pinned hopes on loosening monetary policy this week, about Washington’s protracted spat with Beijing ahead of the G20 summit and much-anticipated meeting between Trump and Xi. It also dashes hopes, flagged by chipmakers in Q1 earnings season, of a recovery in H2 demand. Infineon, Dialog Semiconductor and AMS shares are all down sharply in pre-market trading. It's relatively quiet elsewhere on the news front. Kier shares are seen rising 2 to 5% after The Times reported it is considering selling its housebuilding unit. The construction group is one of Neil Woodford's holdings, so it has high short interest which could propel the shares further. Recruiter SThree's shares are expected to rally after reporting a rise in H1 profits bolstered by double-digit growth in its international markets as it battles a hiring slowdown at home. (Josephine Mason) ***** BYE BYE H2 RECOVERY HOPES! (0648 GMT) Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the wafer market ....... Infineon , Dialog Semiconductor and AMS shares are all down sharply in pre-market trading this morning after Broadcom's revenue warning overnight that revenue will be hurt by the U.S. ban on Huawei and the broader U.S.-China trade conflict. You remember that H2 recovery in chip demand that semiconductor makers flagged in Q1 earnings season? As one trader puts it this morning: "Goodbye H2 recovery hopes!" Futures have now also gone into the red, down around 0.1%. With that, we'll leave you with our favourite shark .... duh.... duh.... duh: (Josephine Mason) ***** ON OUR RADAR: BROADCOM'S WARNING, SWISS RE AND UBS (0615 GMT) As expected, stock futures are indicating a relatively subdued open with futures flat to slightly higher, but investors are waking up to bad news overnight from Broadcom, which became the first chipmaker to disclose damage to business from the U.S. export ban last month on China's Huawei, one of the world's top smartphone makers. After the closing bell, the company known for communications chips that power Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS connectivity in smartphones cut it FY revenue estimate blaming the U.S.-China conflict, effectively dashing hopes of a substantial H2 recovery in semiconductor demand. Its shares were down sharply after hours, dragging competitors with it, and is likely to hurt Infineon, ASM STMicro and chip equipment makers ASML and ASM International. It's relatively quiet elsewhere on the news front. Frayed relations have spread to Switzerland. Haitong International, the Hong Kong unit of Chinese brokerage Haitong Securities Co Ltd, has cut ties with UBS following a comment about Chinese pigs by the Swiss bank's global chief economist that was perceived by some as a racist slur. Swiss Re may bring some cheer to the lean IPO market - the Zurich-based insurer has confirmed it wants to float its $4.5 billion UK life assurance business ReAssure with a listing on the London Stock Exchange in July. Here are your early headlines: Swiss Re plans for London listing of $4.5bln ReAssure unit in July Haitong Intl Securities cuts business with UBS after "Chinese pig" comment-sources France’s Total close to buying 30% in Adani Gas for more than $800 mln - TOI Shell to invest up to $2.4 bln in Mexican deepwater oil projects Airbus in talks with Indigo Partners on A321XLR sale -sources Acacia investor Odey against any 'best and final' offer from Barrick Bayer says to invest 5 bln euros in new weed killers Banks re-open as Hong Kong returns to normal ahead of weekend protest Troubled Kier is preparing to sell its housebuilding unit - The Times BRIEF-Volkswagen sets 27-33 euros for Traton truck unit IPO Italian motorway companies ASTM, SIAS agree to merge (Josephine Mason) ***** SUBDUED OPEN IN EUROPE (0529 GMT) It was a subdued close yesterday and it looks like we might have a repeat on our hands at the open unless key Chinese data (industrial output, retail sales and investment numbers) due out in just under two hours provides any surprises. Economists polled by Reuters expect industrial production in China to have risen 5.5% in May from 5.4% in April and believe retail sales increased 8.1% from 7.2% the previous month. For now, spreadbetters are calling the markets slightly higher, taking their cues from Asia and Wall Street overnight, with oil prices still supported by supply concerns after attacks on tankers in the Gulf of Oman. Financial spreadbetters, IG, expect London's FTSE to open 12 points higher at 7,381, Frankfurt's DAX to open 7 points up at 12,176, and Paris' CAC to open 3 points higher at 5,379. STOXX 600 is on track to notch up gains on the week though as investors continue to bet on easier monetary policy from global central banks. (Josephine Mason) ***** (Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Helen Reid, Josephine Mason and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)