LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: traders mull positive China signals, geopolitics
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EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: TRADERS MULL POSITIVE CHINA SIGNALS, GEOPOLITICS
European futures are a mixed bag on Monday after some positive signals out of China, while geopolitical developments stay in focus ahead of a week of central bank activity.
EuroSTOXX50 STXEc1 futures are down 0.2%, while FTSE futures FFIc1 and DAX futures FDXc1 are flat.
China's retail sales growth quickened in January-February in a welcome sign for policymakers' efforts to boost domestic consumption, after China's State Council unveiled on Sunday what it called a "special action plan" to boost domestic consumption.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and discuss ending the war in Ukraine, after positive talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Moscow.
The Bank of Japan and the Federal Reserve will deliver policy decisions on Wednesday followed by the Bank of England on Thursday.
In company news, drugmaker AstraZeneca AZN.L said on Monday it will buy biotechnology firm EsoBiotec for up to $1 billion.
Porsche SE PSHG_p.DE, Volkswagen's VOWG_p.DE biggest shareholder, said it is not considering selling voting shares in Europe's largest carmaker following a newspaper report that it was weighing such a move.
U.S. tariffs remain at the forefront of investors' minds.
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis NOVN.S will watch "very carefully" how the reciprocal tariff policy proposed by the United States unfolds in early April, Chief Executive Vas Narasimhan said on Monday.
German carmaker BMW said on Friday it expected tariffs to cost it 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) this year.
(Lucy Raitano)
EUROPE, CHINA SHINE AS US EXCEPTIONALISM FADES CLICK HERE
