LIVE MARKETS-What's on the radar: Broadcasters, Elekta, Casino

May 29 - Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to

you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Helen Reid. Reach her on Messenger to

share your thoughts on market moves: helen.reid.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net

WHAT'S ON THE RADAR: BROADCASTERS, ELEKTA, CASINO (0640 GMT)

Threats from China that it could retaliate against the U.S. by using its dominant position

as an exporter of rare earths as leverage in an ongoing trade war are sinking European stock

futures on Wednesday with the especially trade-sensitive DAX set to fall 0.9% at the open.

Dealmaking in Europe’s broadcasting sector is a driver with shares in Germany’s

ProSiebenSat.1 jumping 9% in early deals after Italy's Mediaset announced an acquisition of a

9.6% stake in the German broadcaster.

Meanwhile in results, brake systems maker Knorr Bremse had strong results, raising its

guidance for the year after reporting order intake hit a record, helped by its rail and

commercial vehicle businesses. Its shares are up 3% in pre-market trading.

Swedish radiation therapy equipment maker Elekta reported Q4 earnings beat expectations, and

forecast profitability would improve in the new fiscal year. Traders expected the shares to jump

10%. Falling after results, however, is French catering company Elior after it cut its full-year

growth outlook.

Britain's Telford Homes reported record annual revenue, as an increased focus on

build-to-rent contracts helped it navigate a difficult housing market in London. Shares in

industrial software company AVEVA were seen rising 1-2% after it met market expectations with a

20% rise in profit.

Casino’s announcement that it will not pay an interim dividend in 2019, coupled with S&P

cutting its rating on the French supermarket chain to “B”, was likely to hurt the shares.

(Helen Reid)

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FUTURES FALL AS U.S.-CHINA TENSIONS RISE (0618 GMT)

Futures across the euro zone and UK are down 0.5 to 0.7%, with the trade-sensitive DAX

leading falls, as investors dump risky assets in the face of escalating threats of retaliation

from China.

On the stock level, shares in ProSiebenSat.1 are jumping 8.9% in early deals after Italy's

Mediaset announced an acquisition of a 9.6% stake in the German broadcaster.

British industrial software company AVEVA met expectations with a 20% rise in full-year

earnings, saying it's confident it will meet medium-term targets.

In further headlines:

Telford Homes FY Pretax Profit 40.1 Mln Stg Vs 46 Mln Stg

UK software group AVEVA confident after 20% rise in profit

Mediaset Buys 9.6% Of German Broadcaster Prosiebensat.1

Experian Appoints Mike Rogers As Chairman

France pledges to fight for plant where GE plans 1,044 job cuts

Competition watchdog consults on Provident, NSF merger

(Helen Reid)

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CHINA'S RARE EARTHS THREAT, RESULTS FROM KNORR BREMSE, ELEKTA, ELIOR (0556 GMT)

In a sign of the extent of ill feeling towards the Trump administration after a ban on

Huawei, China's Communist Party newspaper warned the U.S. that the country was ready to use rare

earths to strike back in their bitter trade war, saying in an extremely strongly worded

commentary "don't say we didn't warn you."

Also sapping risk appetite is Huawei's motion in its lawsuit against the U.S. government

asking to declare the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (which instated the Huawei ban)

unconstitutional.

Meanwhile in company news, brake systems maker Knorr Bremse had strong results, raising its

guidance for the year after reporting order intake hit a record, helped by its rail and

commercial vehicle businesses.

Swedish radiation therapy equipment maker Elekta reported Q4 earnings beat expectations, and

forecast profitability would improve in the new fiscal year.

Knorr Bremse raises guidance on strong order intake

BRIEF-Elior Group H1 Revenue Up At 2.60 Billion Euros

Elekta Q4 core profit tops forecast

Finnish IoT company Uros' sales soar 175% last year

UBS believes regulatory costs have peaked, compliance chief says

HSBC plans retail wealth headcount boost; eyes Singapore expansion

(Helen Reid)

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EUROPEAN STOCKS TO DROP AS INVESTORS SHED RISK IN GROWTH SCARE (0529 GMT)

European stocks are set to tumble this morning, following a slide in Asia overnight as

investors rush into safer assets, seeking protection from a worrying spike in trade tension

between the U.S. and China which is likely to hurt global economic growth.

Asian shares sank on Wednesday and bonds rallied as investor sentiment soured over growing

worries about world growth with trade tensions between Washington and Beijing showing no signs

of easing.

The Trump administration said nine countries including China required scrutiny due to

currency practices.

Tensions over Italy are also bubbling with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini saying EU

budget rules should be changed.

Financial spreadbetters expect London's FTSE 100 to open 34 points lower at 7,235,

Frankfurt's DAX to open 85 points lower at 11,943, and Paris' CAC to open 55 points lower at

5,257.

(Helen Reid)

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(Reporting by Helen Reid, Danilo Masoni, Josephine Mason and Thyagaraju Adinarayan)