* European stocks rise
* Utilities rally after RWE, E.ON plan Innogy break-up
March 12 (Reuters) - Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity marketsbrought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Danilo Masoni. Reach him onMessenger to share your thoughts on market moves: danilo.masoni.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
TARIFF TIT-FOR-TAT: HOW FAR WILL IT GO? (1005 GMT)
We're arguably "back to square one" on globalisation, Bank of America Merrill-Lynchstrategists say, with trade tariffs from the
The
"If the tariff tit-for-tat ends here, as with the initial tariffs, the macroeconomic impactis likely to be quite small," BAML writes.
Noting, however, Trump's claim it would counter these tariffs with restrictions on autos,they add: "This would be the kind of escalation that could seriously damage businessconfidence."
Ironic, then, that the pick-up in global growth over the past two years is in part down to arevival in trade.
(Helen Reid)
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OPENING SNAPSHOT: UTILITIES RALLY (0814 GMT)
Stocks across
Utilities are the top-gaining stocks across country benchmarks as news of RWE andE.ON's break-up of Innogy boosts speculation of deal-making.
Suez, EDP, Veolia, EDF, and Italgas are all climbing on the news. Innogy itselfjumped 15 percent.
(Helen Reid)
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE
European shares are expected to open higher with futures on main country benchmarks up0.4-1.1 percent following gains in
British engineer GKN will be in focus after it agreed a
Auto stocks could underperform after US President Donald Trump tweeted that if theEU retaliates against steel tariffs by placing higher tariffs on American goods, the US would"tax cars etc. FAIR!" link here: https://goo.gl/oJ2PBs
Also in the spotlight will be German utilities after RWE and rival E.ONannounced plans to break up Innogy. E.On is seen up 6 percent in premarkettrade.
We'll also be watching shares in Glencore and Randgold after Congo'spresident signed a new mining code on Friday evening.
For other market moving headlines, see two posts below.
(Danilo Masoni)
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FUTURES POINT TO RENEWED RISK APPETITE (0719 GMT)
It's been a strong open for futures across the board, with gains of 0.4 to 0.8 percent - theDAX is leading the pack. This confirms spreadbetters' indications that
(Helen Reid)
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EUROPEAN HEADLINES ROUND-UP (0710 GMT)GKN agrees
MORNING CALL: EUROPEAN SHARES SEEN UP (0630 GMT)
European shares are expected to open higher this morning, tracking gains in
A relief rally swept across Asian share markets after the latest
Here are your morning calls, courtesy of CMC Markets:
FTSE: 3 points higher
DAX 50 points higher
CAC: 21 points higher
(Danilo Masoni)
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