LIVE MARKETS-Strong euro? Kein Problem!

* European stocks open higher

* Cyclicals underperform after rally

* UK inflation down from November peak

Jan 16 (Reuters) - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets

brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Julien Ponthus. Reach him on

Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: julien.ponthus.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net

STRONG EURO? KEIN PROBLEM! (1329 GMT)

The DAX index remains comfortably close to the all-time high it hit in November, up

1 percent, seemingly unperturbed by the rising euro. But shouldn't the stronger currency be a

headwind for the heavily export-oriented German benchmark index?

DZ Bank chief investment strategist Christian Kahler in Frankfurt doesn't believe so and

says corporate Germany should be able to weather the appreciation, despite possible hits to

competitiveness.

"German companies are known for their strong export trade. Based on our analyses, the share

of sales of the German HDAX companies invoiced in USD was 28% (the HDAX comprises the

companies included in the DAX, MDAX and TecDAX indices). This exposes them to increased risks

through changes in exchange rates. However, 23% of the costs are also incurred on a USD basis,

which puts the approach into perspective," he says.

He adds that factors such as natural hedging in the form of local production capacity and

borrowing in USD could also mitigate the rise in the single currency, while the broader strong

economic backdrop is also likely to help.

To be sure, not everyone sees the glass half full. Deutsche Bank (IOB: 0H7D.IL - news) , for example, said

yesterday continued EUR strength could boost its long-standing recommendation of underweight

Europe relative to U.S. equities.

(Danilo Masoni)

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NORWEGIAN FUND'S NUCLEAR WEAPON BAN LEAVES BAE UNSCRATCHED (1228 GMT)

Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) in BAE Systems (LSE: BA.L - news) didn't suffer much from the decision of Norway's sovereign

fund this morning to exclude the British group from its portfolio, citing its policy regarding

firms involved in the production of nuclear weapons.

As you can see on this chart, the fund's statement around 0900 GMT triggered a spike in

volumes but didn't prevent BAE from ticking slightly higher. BAE shares later edged down to

their initial levels. At the beginning of 2017 the fund held 1.47 percent of BAE.

Here's a link to the statement of Norway's sovereign fund, which has excluded other

corporations for the same reason but also on other grounds such as "risk of severe environmental

damage" or "serious or systematic violations of human rights". https://goo.gl/32GNrw

(Julien Ponthus and Terje Solsvik)

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CYCLICAL RALLY: A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME? (1132 GMT)

Cyclicals may be underperforming today but have done great so far this year.

So how long is this latest rally in European cyclicals going to go on for? UBS (LSE: 0QNR.L - news) ' European

equity strategists think that the cyclical outperformance we've seen at the beginning of 2018

could be a sign of things to come: "With (Other OTC: WWTH - news) the recent rise in yields, cyclicals and especially the

Banks have again gained support. We believe this year might carry on largely as it started: with

cyclicals leading the way."

(Kit Rees)

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SOME BIOTECH "FEEL-GOOD" FROM SAN FRANCISCO (1110 GMT)

While the European Healthcare index has been quite an underperformer since the

beginning of the year, analysts from Jefferies posted an upbeat note after meeting the

management of over 30 European biotechs during a conference in San Francisco.

"Overall the tone was notably upbeat", they said noting exciting clinical results in the

pipeline, satisfactory funding and, cherry on the cake, M&A activity such as Novo's

bid for Ablynx .

So far however, as you can see from the snapshot below, few sectors (travel and leisure

, personal and household goods, food and beverages and real estate

) have fared worst:

(Julien Ponthus)

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EURO PARITY? WRONG PREDICTION! (1043 GMT)

A number of investors had predicted the euro to remain weak throughout 2017 only to

be wrong footed by its rapid and seemingly unstoppable surge that started last summer. While the

jury is still out on whether this could stop gains in euro zone equities, predictions

on the single currency are being revisited.

Natixis (LSE: 0IHK.L - news) , which had forecast the euro heading towards parity against the dollar by end-2017,

admits it got it wrong and in a note today it formulates a new forecast for 2018:

"No question of parity, but rather of just when the EUR/USD's ascent will peter out. The

euro has been under the spotlight since the start of the year. It could be the factor that

scuppers the mood of optimism that has carried out over from 2017... a strong euro would end up

affecting the economic recovery in the eurozone".

They conclude however: "we do not see the EUR/USD as having much more upside potential."

In this two-year chart you can see how euro zone stocks have risen despite the stronger

currency.

(Danilo Masoni)

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UK STOCKS TICK HIGHER AFTER INFLATION SLOWS (1014 GMT)

UK inflation has dipped slightly after six months of gains, suggesting the effects of the

pound's slide after the 2016 Brexit vote may be starting to fade.

The FTSE has had a little rally on the numbers but some economists are wondering how to read

the data, with retail prices jumping sharply last month but consumer prices down. With household

incomes still failing to keep pace with rising prices, there appears little relief in sight for

embattled retailers.

Right now, it's hard to interpret the equity market response. The FTSE is now up 0.24

percent, driven mostly by rate-sensitive consumer staples and banks.

(Tom Pfeiffer)

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EUROPEAN STOCKS: TOP MOVERS AND SHAKERS (0914 GMT)

While the price action is fairly muted early on in the session, Steinhoff is the

top riser, up 2.8 percent though this is a relatively small move for such a volatile stock.

Hugo Boss (IOB: 0Q8F.IL - news) is also a top gainer, up 2.1 percent, thanks to its Q4 sales update.

On the downside, shares in RPC Group (LSE: RPC.L - news) have touched their lowest level since last July

following a downgrade from Berenberg, who have cut the plastic packaging maker to "hold" from

"buy".

"The combination of low growth and an uncertain return to acquisitions leads us to

downgrade (RPC (NYSE: RES - news) ) to Hold and move our price target to 920p (from 1,120p)," Berenberg analysts

say.

Here are the biggest STOXX movers while we await the UK inflation data:

(Kit Rees)

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OPENING SNAPSHOT: EUROPE HEADS HIGHER (0838 GMT)

In the first half hour of trading, European shares are climbing higher. While it's a

broad-based move into positive territory, shares in banks and commodity stocks are notably being

left behind this morning on the back of a weaker oil price and a slide in copper prices.

Here's your early snapshot:

(Kit Rees)

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WHAT WE ARE WATCHING (0750 GMT)

Major European bourses are expected to open slightly higher this morning, with a heavier

news flow and the U.S. markets reopening after MLK day.

In the UK, all eyes will be on inflation, which is expected to have gone down from a 3.1

percent peak in November, giving a bit of room for manoeuvre to the BoE (Shenzhen: 000725.SZ - news) .

M&A and special situations are making the headlines with GKN (Frankfurt: 694194 - news) facing pressure from activist

fund Elliott to engage with Melrose (LSE: 136541.L - news) , Continental (Milan: CON.MI - news) (according to sources) hiring JP Morgan for a

potential break-up and HSH Nordbank suitors J.C. Flowers and Cerberus beginning exclusive talks.

The aftermath of Carillon’s collapse is also a period where its former rivals are under

intense scrutiny.

In terms of earnings, a number of blue chips have published trading updates such as

Peugeot (Other OTC: PUGOF - news) , Hugo Boss, Lindt & Spruengli and Rio Tinto (Hanover: CRA1.HA - news) . French utility Engie (LSE: 0LD0.L - news) said it hopes to boost

earnings growth in its core businesses of renewable energy, grids and energy services this year,

after an estimated five percent gain in core earnings in 2017.

While a number of strategists are advising their clients to start investing in banks in a

new world of rising yields, a headline today may look all too familiar with the last ten years.

Deutsche Bank, which is trying hard to convince investors that the bulk of financial

scandals it suffered this last decade is behind it, has been accused in a lawsuit of conspiring

to rig a Canadian rate benchmark.

Still in the financial sector, ABN Amro said Q4 results would include several incidentals

regarding its operating income and expenses​.

(Julien Ponthus)

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A BUSY DAY FOR EUROPEAN FOOD AND RETAIL (0734 GMT)

We're getting a flurry of updates in the food and retail sectors today.

Hugo Boss reported quarterly sales growth driven by footfall in its own store

network. Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli also posted higher sales.

In the UK, bakery chain Greggs (Stuttgart: 41G1.SG - news) reported a rise in Christmas sales and expects to

meet profit expectations in 2017. One trader sees Greggs' shares rising slightly.

JD Sports also had a strong Christmas and expects annual profit to be ahead of

expectations. JD shares only saw a moderate gain in 2017 after four years of stronger growth,

but perhaps today's update can push them higher.

(Kit Rees)

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FUTURES POINT UP (0705)

European stocks futures have opened slightly higher, and while London, Paris and Frankfurt

seem set to open in positive territory, the picture is less clear with the pan-European market

and the Euro STOXX 50.

Here's the snapshot:

(Julien Ponthus)

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MISPLACED OPTIMISM ON UK INFLATION? (0645)

Consensus is that headline inflation in the UK edged down from the 3.1 percent peak it

reached in November and therefore back within 3 percent. The answer is due at 0930 GMT but some

analysts have voiced a few "what-ifs?".

"One can't help feeling that this optimism might well be misplaced", wrote CMC Markets (LSE: CMCX.L - news)

analyst Michael Hewson, noting that airfaires and fuel prices might have misbehaved in December.

On the other hand and looking a bit further ahead, ING argues that slower than expected wage

growth could give the BoE room for manoeuvre.

"We caution that a 2018 rate hike still isn't a given - although admittedly it will be a

close call", the Dutch bank's analysts wrote.

(Julien Ponthus)

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MORNING CALL: EUROPE SEEN OPENING SLIGHTLY HIGHER (0615 GMT)

Good morning. Financial spreadbetters see European shares rising slightly, with Germany's

DAX and Britain's FTSE 100 expected both to climb 8 points and France's CAC

1 point.

Asian shares closed higher, erasing early modest losses while the euro stood near a 3-year

peak on rising expectations that the European Central Bank could pare its monetary stimulus.

U.S. markets will reopen later today after being closed for a public holiday.

(Julien Ponthus)

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(Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Helen Reid, Kit Rees and Julien Ponthus)