LIVE MARKETS-STOXX inches higher on heavy earnings day

Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com

STOXX INCHES HIGHER ON HEAVY EARNINGS DAY

Europe's STOXX 600 is trading slightly higher on Wednesday on a busy day of earnings, while calmer noise around tariffs continues to support markets.

The pan-European benchmark is last up 0.2% and is now just 2% below its last close before Trump announced his tariff plan on April 2.

On Tuesday, Trump signed two executive orders aimed to soften the blow of his auto tariffs, while his Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he had reached a deal with one country on tariffs, but refused to name who.

The DAX is up 0.4% and is now 0.6% above its pre-Liberation Day close, while Britain's FTSE .FTSE and France's CAC 40 .FCHI are flat and up 0.3% respectively. Spain's IBEX .IBEX underperforms after a slide in Caixabank CABK.MC and Santander SAN.MC shares after results.

Mining stocks .SXPP are lagging, led lower by a more than 4% drop in Glencore GLEN.L shares after first quarter copper production fell 30%. A survey that showed China's factory activity contracted at the sharpest pace in 16 months is also weighing on the sector.

Europe's autos and part sector .SXAP is little changed after Trump's executive orders and a number of big earnings reports.

Mercedes-Benz MBGn.DE shares are down 1% while Stellantis STLAM.MI shares are up 1.4% after results. Both companies pulled earnings guidance. Volkswagen VOWG.DE also warned on the risks from the trade war. Its shares are flat on the day, having pre-released results a few weeks ago.

Here's your opening snapshot:

(Samuel Indyk)

WEDNESDAY'S OTHER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES STRUGGLING FOR DIRECTION CLICK HERE

DATA DELUGE ROUNDS OFF TURBULENT APRIL CLICK HERE