LIVE MARKETS-ON OUR RADAR: CARS, AIRLINES, RETAILERS, WHAT ELSE?

Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters. You can share your thoughts with Thyagaraju Adinarayan (thyagaraju.adinarayan@thomsonreuters.com), Joice Alves (joice.alves@thomsonreuters.com) and Julien Ponthus (julien.ponthus@thomsonreuters.com) in London.

ON OUR RADAR: CARS, AIRLINES, RETAILERS, WHAT ELSE?

Futures are pointing to gains across Europe in early trade, but that could change at any point as main future indices have been trading up and down this morning.

It is not really clear if ECB's 850 bn euros bond buying programme announced last night will buy a day of peace of mind to stock investors as most of Europe is closed for business due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The unprecedented corona-virus induced crisis is putting all sectors to the test, especially retailers (those not selling food). British clothing retailer Next said its balance sheet and margins will help it to weather the storm.

Fiat Chrysler is the latest car maker to suspend production operations. It said it is suspending production in North American manufacturing facilities.

Airlines continue to be under pressure and Lufthansa said that the industry may not survive without state aid.

Back to food for our dose of positive news: UK online supermarket Ocado is seeing a boost in demand.

(Joice Alves)

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STRANGE CHANGE OF HEART (0714 GMT)

European futures turned positive for a few minutes, while they were down around 1% earlier this morning.

Have investors just reacted to the ECB bond buying programme?

It seems it is going to be just as short-lived as other recent rounds of stimuli from European and U.S. central banks.

Indeed, while we are writing this, futures are already fighting to stay in the black in choppy market.

(Joice Alves)

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ANOTHER SELLOFF EVEN AFTER ECB'S MOVE? (0640 GMT)

The latest round of fiscal stimulus measures is not reassuring investors and futures and financial spreadbetters point to another day in the red for European bourses.

The ECB launched a 750 bln euro emergency bond purchase programme last evening in a bid to stop the pandemic-induced financial rout shredding the euro zone's economy as much of Europe is in lockdown amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Yet, financial spreadbetters expect London's FTSE to open 191 points lower at 4,890, Frankfurt's DAX to open 353 points lower at 8,089 and Paris' CAC to open 172 points lower at 3,583.

In the UK, the pound collapsed as Boris announced he is closing schools.

Additionally, Britain's oil and gas sector is calling for financial help to survive, industry body OGUK says, as the oil price crash means the sector may be unable to keep producing hydrocarbons in the North Sea.

(Joice Alves) (Reporting by Joice Alves, Julien Ponthus and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)