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LIVE MARKETS-On our radar: carmakers, hotels and retailers

Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Joice Alves. Reach her on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: joice.alves.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net

ON OUR RADAR: CARMAKERS, HOTELS AND RETAILERS (0700 GMT)

European shares are set for a bleak end to the week, with major futures firmly in the red and indicating a weak open as investors lock in some profits from this week's blistering gains and hit the sidelines ahead of the showdown in British parliament tomorrow as lawmakers prepare to vote on PM Boris Johnson's Brexit deal.

The euro zone benchmark rocketed to July 2018 highs and at the moment is set for a second week of gains, but much hangs in the balance between now and the closing bell as investors brace for Brexit headline roulette.

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On the corporate news front, there's a decidedly French feel and it doesn't look good for some major French names as they face major problems away from home.

Warnings on sales or profits from Renault, Accor and Thales will likely add pressure to the European automobile, tourism, satellite sectors this morning.

Traders expect Renault shares to fall 7-8% after the French carmaker cut its revenue guidance for 2019 further and lowered its profitability forecast, citing difficulties in markets such as Turkey and Argentina. Volvo reported its truck orders tumbled, although traders say the outlook for the shares was mixed.

Europe's largest defence electronics company Thales lowered its 2019 revenue growth forecast due mainly to slow sales of commercial satellites and production delays with an Australian military vehicle project. The news could hurt Italian competitor Leonardo.

Some other big French names reported they are struggling because of troubles across Asia.

Accor, Europe's largest hotels company, narrowed its full-year profit guidance even as it reported stronger third-quarter sales, citing uncertainty on China-related issues.

One dealer sees Intercontinental Hotels shares down 2% after the Holiday Inn owner flagged weak bookings China and Hong Kong as ongoing unrest in the former British colony hurt tourism.

Remy Cointreau also said falling tourism in Hong Kong hurt cognac sales in its second quarter.

Back in China, Danone said it is selling more baby food in the country delivering another a strong rise in turnover, but 3Q performance lagged market expectations and food company narrowed its sales growth outlook for the 2019 full year.

It is not all bad news from France. Department store company FNAC DARTY reported its sales rose 1.7% to 1.82 billion euros.

Early headlines:

Three buyout groups vie for Scout24's Autoscout unit -sources

Germany’s Ceconomy ousts CEO and names interim chief

Alitalia rescue hopes rise as Lufthansa looks set to step in

Accorhotels Q3 Revenue Up At 1.05 Billion Euros

Bolloré Q3 Revenue Up At 6.17 Billion Euros

Fnac Darty Q3 Revenues Up At 1.8 Billion Euros

Renault warns sales to fall in 2019 as automakers struggle

France's Thales issues 2019 sales warning on space, defence woes

Vivendi says Universal draws interest from other investors

Debt-laden Casino sees Q3 sales slow but keeps 2019 targets

Retailer FNAC Darty reports higher Q3 revenue, confirms outlook

Accor narrows 2019 earnings guidance, cites China uncertainties

Food group Danone narrows 2019 sales growth goal despite strong Q3

Vivendi Q3 revenue up 7.2% on strong Universal performance

Hong Kong tourism fall hits cognac sales at Remy Cointreau

Volvo truck orders hit in Q3 as market demand loses steam

Getinge Q3 core profit beats expectations

Yara launches share buy-backs after Q3 earnings in line

LSE Group Q3 income rises, CFO to retire at the end of 2020

Holiday Inn-owner IHG reports drop in quarterly revenue per room

Logistics firm Wincanton plans possible offer for peer Eddie Stobart

(Joice Alves)

*****

CHINA STUMBLES AS EUROPE BRACES FOR BREXIT HEADLINE ROULETTE (0536 GMT)

It is not all about Brexit today, but a lot of it is.

European bourses are expected to open slightly lower this morning after China posted its weakest growth in nearly three decades, countering some of yesterday's positive mood that saw European stocks hit one-year highs after the UK and European Union finally struck a Brexit deal.

While the headline GDP number for China was weaker than expected confirming that the spat between China and the U.S. continues taking a toll on the world's second largest economy, it stirred some hopes of further government stimulus and investors may also draw comfort from the strong industrial output and inline retail sales numbers.

It was enough to knock Asian stocks lower overnight and dealers expect a risk-off day here in Europe.

Investors will be nervous ahead of the showdown in parliament tomorrow as lawmakers vote on PM Johnson's Brexit deal. One dealer says it's be another day of "headline roulette" and getting the deal passed will be seen as an uphill struggle for the PM.

Back in Europe, financial spreadbetters IG expect London's FTSE to open 9 points lower at 7,173, Frankfurt's DAX to open 18 points lower at 12,637 and Paris' CAC to open 3 points lower at 5,670. (Joice Alves)

*****

(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Joice Alves, Josephine Mason, Julien Ponthus and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)