LIVE MARKETS-Opening snapshot: it's down but just slightly
* European shares open down slightly
* STOXX hits 5-month low as trade woes loom
* European utilities in demand
* In Asia, stocks extend losing streak
Sept 6 (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
OPENING SNAPSHOT: IT'S DOWN BUT JUST SLIGHTLY (0806 GMT)
European shares have opened in the red but losses for the STOXX are limited to 0.2
percent (although the index has hit a 5-month low in opening trade) and some other benchmarks
are even egging up in positive territory. Surely losses on emerging markets and looming trade
woes are keeping investors on the edge, reluctant to take on big risks. There are some bright
spots, however, with Safran (LSE: 0IU8.L - news) rallying after lifting its guidance and utilities in demand
following a Goldman upgrade for Italy's Enel (LSE: 0NRE.L - news) and after the UK regulator set an energy price cap
that was at the lower range of analysts' expectations.
Here's your snapshot:
(Danilo Masoni)
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE THE OPEN (0648 GMT)
European shares are set for a sluggish open today on worries Washington will follow through
on plans to levy an extra $200 billion of Chinese imports, while heavy losses in U.S. tech
stocks overnight could also weigh further. Futures on main regional benchmarks are trading
between a rise of 0.05 percent and a fall of 0.2 percent.
On the corporate front newsflow is thin but there are some earning updates and dealmaking
activity that could liven up the session.
Heavyweight drugmaker Novartis (IOB: 0QLR.IL - news) is seen up 0.7 percent in pre-market after it agreed to sell
parts of its U.S. business in a $900 million deal that will help it focus on higher growth
areas. In updates, Safran could find support after the world's third largest aerospace supplier
raised full-year forecasts following better-than-expected sales and profit in the first half on
strong demand for spares and services. Safran shares have come down a bit from the new record
high hit last month.
In tech, shares Taiwan (Taiwan OTC: 6549.TWO - news) 's Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL - news) supplier Largan Precision fell after disappointing August
sales. That could weigh on other Apple suppliers such as Germany's Dialog and AMS (IOB: 0QWC.IL - news) .
Other stock movers: France's Sodexo unveils strategic plan to boost growth; Just Group
delays dividend on mortgage rule risks; Dixons Carphone (Frankfurt: CWB.F - news) begins slow road to recovery, says on
track for targets; Atlantia (LSE: 0I2R.L - news) -Abertis (Amsterdam: IF6.AS - news) deal will proceed as planned - Gilberto Benetton to paper
(Danilo Masoni)
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FUTURES POINT TO SLUGGISH OPEN IN EUROPE
European stock futures are trading flat to slightly lower, pointing to a sluggish open for
equities in the region - a sign that investors remain reluctant to take big risks on a day when
consultations on a U.S. plan to impose levies on $200 billion more of Chinese imports end.
Washington will decide on the new tariffs after the deadline although it is unclear how
quickly that will happen. Investors are concerned the U.S. will follow through on the plan.
"A big jump in the US trade deficit to $50.1 billion appears to have convinced markets that
the prospect of further tariffs is almost inevitable, given that the gap with China hit yet
another record high," says Michael Hewson, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets UK.
"The deficit with the EU also rose to a record high, which suggests that it won’t be long
before President Trump starts banging that drum again," he adds.
Here's your snapshot:
(Danilo Masoni)
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HEADLINES ROUNDUP: SAFRAN UPS TARGETS, NOVARTIS CUTS US EXPOSURE (0607 GMT)
Among the corporate headlines that could move stocks this morning there's a good-looking
update from the world's third largest aerospace supplier Safran, which raised its 2018
targets, while Novartis agreed to sell parts of its U.S. business as the drugmaker
looks to focus on higher growth areas. Here are all the headlines, click on the link for more.
Safran raises 2018 targets after beating H1 forecasts
Novartis sells parts of Sandoz US to India's Aurobindo for $900 mln
Drugmaker GSK to eliminate 650 U.S. jobs
Australia watchdog flags concerns on Siemens (BSE: SIEMENS.BO - news) , Alstom (LSE: 0J2R.L - news) rail deal
Norsk Hydro (LSE: NHY.L - news) says it signed deal with Brazil after pollution concerns
Glencore (Frankfurt: 8GC.F - news) seeks to grow Brazil fuel distribution unit -Ale CEO
SBM Offshore (Swiss: SBM.SW - news) to pay additional fines to Petrobras
Vivendi (LSE: 0IIF.L - news) says TIM's performance since Elliott took over "disastrous"
Germany's Commerzbank (Xetra: CBK100 - news) gets the boot from the DAX index
Carige's biggest shareholder seeks to block rival's boardroom plan
Salini, FCC and AECOM (NYSE: ACM - news) win $1.5 bln airport project in Peru
K+S (Swiss: SDF-EUR.SW - news) to cut further costs this year as drought hampers production
Volvo reveals new robo-taxi in race to autonomy
Tullow Oil (LSE: TLW.L - news) plans to drill first Guyana well in third quarter of 2019
France's Altran (Paris: FR0000034639 - news) says Aricent forgery was isolated event
(Danilo Masoni)
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MORNING CALL: EUROPEAN SHARES SEEN LITTLE CHANGED (0519 GMT)
European shares are set to open little changed today after ending at a two-month low in the
previous session on ongoing worries over trade and emerging markets currencies.
Here are your morning calls, courtesy of CMC Markets (LSE: CMCX.L - news) :
* FTSE 100 is expected to open 3 points lower at 7,380
* DAX is expected to open 10 points higher at 12,050
* CAC 40 is expected to open 4 points higher at 5,264
Over in Asia, shares fell for a sixth straight session as oil skidded and safe-haven gold
gained, with investor confidence shaken by turmoil in emerging markets and jitters over a
potentially severe escalation in the U.S.-China trade war, writes Swati Pandey in Sydney.
(Danilo Masoni)
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