* European stock futures up 0.3-0.4 pct
* Infineon lowers guidance, AMS skips div
* Solid results from BP, Assa Abloy
* Eyes on euro zone services PMIs
* In Asia, stocks extend gains
Feb 5 - Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Danilo Masoni. Reach him on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: danilo.masoni.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING BEFORE THE OPEN (0753 GMT)
European shares are expected to open higher today, tracking gains in Asia and on Wall Street overnight and with services PMIs set to be closely watched for more clues on the health of the slowing euro zone economy. Futures are up 0.3-0.4 percent.
There are also lots of earnings updates to digest.
Chipmakers will be in focus after results from Infineon and AMS confirmed the worsening outlook for the sector, while the fall in Alphabet shares overnight on worries over an increase in spending, which offset consensus-beating results, highlighted how investors have become nervous about the once high-flying tech sector.
Infineon shares are seen down 2-3 percent after it cut its outlook, while AMS shares could fall 5-10 percent after the sensor specialist and Apple supplier skipped its dividend and predicted a fall in first quarter revenue.
Poor-looking updates also from Swedish machinery maker Alfa Laval, jeweller Pandora, and British online supermarket and technology group Ocado.
Newsflow for airlines, recently under pressure because rising crude oil prices lift their fuel bills, is also not looking good: German airline Germania filed for insolvency while Aeroflot warned that fuel prices would cost it $732 mln in 2018.
Among stocks set to gain following solid updates are oil major BP and Swedish lock maker Assa Abloy, while Husqvarna posted a smaller than expected loss.
Other stock movers: Drugmaker Lundbeck lowers dividend range to fuel growth; MTG Q4 core profit just beats forecast; U.S. judge lets most emissions claims against Daimler proceed; T-Mobile pledges three-year price clampdown if merger is approved
For more headlines, check out the previous post.
(Danilo Masoni)
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FUTURES RISE, CHIPMAKERS IN FOCUS AFTER INFINEON, AMS UPDATES (0707 GMT)
Turning to the corporate front, chipmakers will be on the watch list today after updates from Infineon and AMS confirmed the worsening outlook for the sector, while the fall in Alphabet shares overnight on worries over an increase in spending, which offset consensus-beating results, highlighted how investors have become nervous about the once high-flying tech sector.
Meanwhile European stock futures have started trading, up around 0.3-0.5 percent.
Here are some more hadlines:
Infineon lowers 2018/19 guidance on revenue growth to 9 pct
Apple supplier AMS sees weak Q1, skips dividend
Alfa Laval Q4 order intake misses forecast on scrubbers slowdown
MTG Q4 core profit just beats forecast
Roche seeks to freshen up Kadcyla label amid biosimilar defense
German airline Germania files for insolvency
Russia's Aeroflot warns fuel prices to cost it $732 mln in 2018
Britain's FirstGroup selling one of its largest regional bus divisions -Telegraph
U.S. judge lets most emissions claims against Daimler proceed
Telecom Italia auditors unable to convene shareholder meeting requested by Vivendi
Deutsche cuts back correspondent banking after Danske scandal
Britain's Metro Bank hit by fraud attack
(Danilo Masoni)
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EUROPEAN SHARES SEEN EDGING HIGHER (0626 GMT)
Stocks in Europe are expected to open slightly up today, supported by gains in Asia and Wall Street overnight, although worries over the economic outlook may curb the enthusiasm about central banks' dovish stances, while the closure of domestic Chinese markets for the Lunar New Year may add to investors' caution.
Today's euro zone PMI services will be closely watched for more clues on the health of the economy.
"Last week’s manufacturing PMI's showed little sign of a pickup in January, apart from a decent number from Spain, and today's services numbers might well be similarly disappointing," says Michael Hewson, analyst at CMC Markets.
Financial spreadbetters at IG expect London's FTSE to open 34 points higher at 7,068, Frankfurt's DAX to open 28 points higher at 11,204 and Paris' CAC to open 19 points higher at 5,019.
Over in Asia, stocks extended gains as the Federal Reserve's cautious turn underpinned appetite for riskier assets, while the dollar held firm on last week's upbeat U.S. data.
(Danilo Masoni)
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BP (BP.)
