LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: futures rise on easing trade tensions, positive earnings

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EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES RISE ON EASING TRADE TENSIONS, POSITIVE EARNINGS

European futures signal rises at the open, on signs that the China-U.S. trade war might be easing after China said it is 'evaluating' a U.S. offer to talk tariffs.

Euro STOXX 50 futures STXEc1 are adding 1%, futures on the DAX FDXc1 are up 0.5%, and FTSE FFIc1 are 0.5% higher.

Helping the mood is also a stream of positive European earnings.

Standard Chartered STAN.L has reported a 10% profit rise, and Shell SHEL.L is out with a Q1 profit of $5.58 billion which comes in above expectations.

NatWest NWG.L has also reported its first quarter profit up 36%, Denmark's biggest lender Danske Bank DANSKE.CO has beaten expectations, as has Dutch lender ING INGA.AS.

Eyes were on Apple and Amazon shares in early Frankfurt trading, after the two reported quarterly earnings on Thursday. Apple shares AAPL.F were down 3.1% after it trimmed its share buyback and warned on the impact of tariffs while Amazon AMZN.F shares listed in Frankfurt rose 2%.

Traders are waiting for U.S. non farm payrolls later in the session for a key read on the health of the U.S. economy. Euro zone flash inflation numbers for April are also due out.

(Lucy Raitano)

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