LIVE MARKETS-Solid gains on calming no-deal Brexit fears

Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Thyagaraju Adinarayan. Reach him on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: thyagaraju.adinarayan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net SOLID GAINS ON CALMING NO-DEAL BREXIT FEARS (0654 GMT) Politics is taking centre stage today driving gains across Europe with British lawmakers strongly opposing a no-deal Brexit and Italy on track to form a new government in the next few days as 5-Star members overwhelmingly supported the new coalition with the Democratic Party (PD). European stocks point to more than 1% gains with Germany's DAX in driving seat as calming no-deal Brexit fears is giving some comfort to the export-heavy nation amid which is likely to tip into a recession. UK's FTSE 100 futures are up 0.6% as steadying pound is capping major gains. A London-based trader says abating no-deal Brexit fears and a bit of bargain hunting in Asia are feeding through to Europe. Asia-exposed UK banks Standard Chartered and HSBC are seen rising 2% on Chinese media report Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam is expected to announce later on Wednesday the formal withdrawal of the proposed extradition bill that's triggered major protests this summer, according to one dealer. The luxury sector could also get a boost from that report which will quell concerns that the violence would hurt business. Dealers see shares rising 2%-3%. In corporate news, strong numbers and an upbeat outlook from Delivery Hero are fuelling its shares 1.5% higher in premarket trade, while UK rival Just Eat shares are seen up 2% amid hopes it may attract a fresh round of suitors after a top-10 shareholder said yesterday it would vote against a proposed 9 billion pound ($11 billion) merger with Takeaway.com, saying the deal undervalued Just Eat. RBS shares is seen down 1%-2% after it set aside another 600-900 million pounds for PPI claims. Thales shares are seen up 2-4% after in-line H1 results, even after saying its FY organic sales would be in the lower end of previous guidance. Key corporate headlines: RBS makes fresh 600-900 mln stg provision for PPI claims Diageo Scottish union reveals strike action dates Barratt Developments reports higher annual profit Dunelm annual profit jumps, still cautious about FY outlook Insurer Just Group posts 27% drop in H1 operating profit, pays no dividend Premier Asset Management merges with Miton to form group with 11.5bln stg AUM (Thyagaraju Adinarayan) ***** UK WARMS UP TO MORE DRAMA; ITALY CALMS (0606 GMT) European stock futures point to a strong open as no-deal Brexit fears abate with FTSE futures rising 0.6% and Euro STOXX futures up 0.8%. Gains however are likely to be limited as UK PM Johnson's call for snap election brings fresh uncertainty. Italian stocks are likely to climb as 5-Star members overwhelmingly backed a proposed coalition with the Democratic Party (PD), opening the way for a new government to take office. It's going to be another eventful day in British politics as British lawmakers take control of parliamentary business and will seek to pass a law forcing Johnson to ask the EU to delay Brexit - for a third time - until Jan. 31 unless he has a deal approved by parliament beforehand. In corporate news, Delivery Hero shares rise 1.7% in premarket trade on upbeat full-year outlook. France's Thales could come under pressure after the French defence electronics group toned down sales growth outlook. (Thyagaraju Adinarayan) ***** TENTATIVE GAINS AS NO-DEAL BREXIT FEARS FADE; SNAP ELECTION LIKELY (0532 GMT) Tentative gains in Europe as British lawmakers defeated PM Johnson in parliament, potentially averting a no-deal Brexit for now, but calls for snap election adds back uncertainty keeping investors away from UK assets. "We think Parliament will now likely legislate to prevent no deal over the coming days if immediate dissolution is avoided," Citi strategists and economists say. Financial spreadbetters IG expect London's FTSE to open 16 points higher at 7,284, Frankfurt's DAX to open 46 points higher at 11,957, and Paris' CAC to open 13 points higher at 5,479. Meanwhile in Italy, 5-Star Movement members overwhelmingly backed a proposed coalition with the Democratic Party (PD), opening the way for a new government to take office in the coming days. Johnson at the House of Commons (Thyagaraju Adinarayan) ***** (Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Josephine Mason and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)