RDSA.L Share News (RDSA)

LONDON, March 9 (Reuters) - Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equitymarkets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Julien Ponthus. Reachhim on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves:julien.ponthus.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net EUROPEAN SHARES CAUTIOUSLY IN THE RED (0848 GMT) European shares opened slightly lower with most sectors in the red except defensives such ashealthcare or utilities. Investors held their nerves after the announcement of U.S. tariffs andthe focus has now turned to the U.S. jobs report later today. German industrial output data did little to lift sentiment as did the few corporate earningspublished this morning. (Julien Ponthus) ***** HEDGE FUND SHORTING OF EUROPEAN EQUITIES AT FIVE-YEAR HIGH (0814 GMT) Despite weeks of upgrades to European earnings and positive macro newsflow, internationalhedge fund investor interest in Europe "feels as low as it has ever been", say Morgan Stanleyanalysts, who point out a steady rise in short exposure to its highest in at least five years. The MS Prime Brokerage data on European hedge fund positioning also shows European hedgefund overall net exposure close to a five-year low at 33%. Link to graphic: http://reut.rs/2Fmti9M (Thyagaraju Adinarayan) ***** NO PANIC IN EUROPE AS TRUMP FOLLOWS THROUGH ON TARIFFS (0748 GMT) There's a sense of disbelief among some market analysts as the announcement of new U.S.tariffs, which had been stoking fears of a global trade war, fails to deliver the predictedsell-off. “It’s a very strange world indeed when the long anticipated confirmation of a 25% tariff onsteel and 10% on aluminium prompts stock markets to close higher”, writes Michael Hewson of CMCMarkets. Some relief too on the Korean front, with the North offering "denuclearisation" and offeringto hold the first ever U.S.-North Korea summit. But the main point of focus will be the U.S. jobs report at 1330 GMT. It was the upbeat jobs data last month that fanned speculation of faster rate rises in theUnited States, causing a rout in the bond market and hammering world equities. A jump in thehourly earnings data above the expected 2.8 percent could cement expectations of four Fed hikesin 2018. German industrial output fell unexpectedly in January, data showed on Friday, adding tosigns that factories in Europe's largest economy are operating at a slower pace at the start ofthe year. Here's a round-up of overnight corporate news headlines:China Resources Beer in talks to acquire Heineken's China business - sourcesShell, Blackstone eye $10 bln bid for BHP U.S. shale assets -Sky NewsSwiss bank Raiffeisen's chairman steps down amid probe of ex-CEOItaly's Ferragamo rules out sale as troubles continueDaimler, Volvo Cars executives sceptical over Geely alliance plan nL5N1QP3EP]Labour union calls strike at Deutsche Telekom over payInmarsat cuts dividend to fund investment in aviation business?France's Lagardere says future of Elle magazine "a question"France's TF1 and Orange sign a new distribution deal on channelsUK's SIG full-year profit rises 4.3 pctBRIEF-SSAB comments on impact of U.S. steel tariffs(Julien Ponthus, Tom Pfeiffer)***** EUROPEAN FUTURES OPEN SLIGHTLY LOWER, U.S. JOB REPORT IN FOCUS (0715 GMT) European futures have opened slightly lower as investors, already trying to read through theconsequences of the new U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs and a possible meeting between NorthKorean leader Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump, brace themselves for the U.S. job report at 1330GMT. It was the upbeat jobs data last month that fanned speculation of faster rate rises in theUnited States, causing a rout in the bond market and hammering world equities. (Julien Ponthus) ***** MORNING CALL: EUROPEAN SHARES SEEN FLAT AT THE OPEN (0616 GMT) Financial spreadbetters expect London's FTSE to open 2 points higher, Frankfurt's DAX 8points down and Paris' CAC to edge down 5 points. Asian shares pared sharp early gains ahead of U.S. payrolls data which could hasten FederalReserve rate hikes, and as some caution set in about the new entente between North Korean leaderKim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump. On the protectionism front, the mood has brightened a little after Trump pressed ahead withtariffs but offered conditional exemptions for Canada and Mexico, offering at least the hopethat a full-blown global trade war could be averted. (Julien Ponthus) *****