LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: sentiment helped by US-UK trade deal

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EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: SENTIMENT HELPED BY US-UK TRADE DEAL

European stock futures are trading higher on Friday after the U.S. and Britain signed a trade agreement, fanning hopes that more deals will be forthcoming.

Euro STOXX 50 futures STXEc1 are up 0.4%, and the index remains on track to gain for its fourth straight week, a sharp reversal after the sell-off post April 2.

Futures on the DAX FDXc1, CAC FCEc1 and FTSE FFIc1 are up between 0.4%-0.5%.

Attention is turning to the weekend, when the first talks between U.S. and Chinese officials on trade take place in Switzerland.

On Friday, the calendar is light on data, but heavy on central bank speakers, with five Fed speakers and speeches due from BoE Governor Andrew Bailey and Chief Economist Huw Pill - the latter voted to keep rates on hold at this week's policy decision.

In corporate news, Commerzbank CBKG.DE reported a 12% rise in net profit, beating expectations.

IAG ICAG.L, which owns British Airways, also reported better-than-forecast first quarter profit and said it had ordered 53 new Airbus and Boeing long-haul aircraft.

(Samuel Indyk)

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