LIVE MARKETS-Stocks seen higher as coronavirus not global emergency yet

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

STOCKS SEEN HIGHER AS CORONAVIRUS NOT GLOBAL EMERGENCY YET(0635 GMT)

European bourses are expected to open higher this Friday as markets steadied overnight, as investors took some solace from the World Health Organisation labelling the coronavirus outbreak an emergency for China, where 25 people have died and at least 800 have been infected, but not, as yet, for the rest of the world.

Meantime, Asian shares held their ground as trade slowed for a week-long holiday for the Lunar New Year, despite investors fears that the coronavirus could spread faster as people travel for the holidays.

Back in Europe, financial spreadbetters at IG expect London's FTSE to open 44 points higher at 7,552, Frankfurt's DAX to open 110 points higher at 13,498 and Paris' CAC to open 46 points higher at 6,018.

It is also a slightly busy day for earnings with companies like Ericsson and Givaudan announcing results.

Investors will also be watching the UK and the euro zone PMI figues, both expected to be released this morning.

(Joice Alves)

*****

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