LIVE MARKETS-STOXX 600 firmer as chemicals and beverages lift index

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STOXX 600 FIRMER AS CHEMICALS AND BEVERAGES LIFT INDEX

The STOXX 600 .STOXX is up 0.2%, teetering around flat for the week. If this slips into negative territory it will be the index's first weekly loss of 2025 reversing eight straight weeks of gains.

The best off sector is chemicals .SX4P, rising 1.6%, with French industrial gases supplier Air Liquide AIRP.PA helping out as its shares surge 3.4% on some positive results.

Food and beverages .SX3P is the next best performer on a sector basis rising 0.9% boosted by some rising shares in drinks companies.

On the flipside, aerospace and defence stocks are down 0.6% though the basket is up 14% year-to-date amid a rally in the sector.

Overall Europe's top riser is French engineering consulting group Alten .LTEN.PA, up 14.3% after full year results.

Swedish radiation therapy equipment maker Elekta EKTAb.ST is the biggest faller, down 8.3% after the company cut its FY24/25 revenue and EBIT guidance.

(Lucy Raitano)

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