LIVE MARKETS-Euro zone blue-chips set for best month in two years

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EURO ZONE BLUE-CHIPS SET FOR BEST MONTH IN TWO YEARS

The Euro STOXX 50 .STOXX50E is heading for its biggest monthly gain in two years, supported by upbeat early earnings, a lack of imminent U.S. import tariffs and calmer bond yields.

The index is up 0.3% on Friday, taking January's gains to 8.2%, its biggest monthly jump since January 2023.

The broader STOXX 600 .STOXX is up 0.4% on Friday and at a new record intraday high. The index is heading for a 6.4% rise in January, its biggest monthly gain since November 2023.

Other bourses in the region are also at records. Germany's DAX .GDAXI is up just shy of 0.1% and Britain's FTSE .FTSE is up 0.3%, both touching fresh peaks on Friday.

Switzerland's SMI .SSMI slightly outperforms, boosted by upbeat results from Novartis NOVN.S, one of the index's big three constituents along with Nestle and Roche.

Shares in the Swiss drugmaker are up 3.4% after it posted quarterly adjusted net income well above analyst estimates.

Here's your opening snapshot:

(Samuel Indyk)

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