LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: Stocks set to round off positive week in the green

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EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: STOCKS SET TO ROUND OFF POSITIVE WEEK IN THE GREEN

European equity futures are higher on Friday as markets look set to round off another week in the green, due to easing trade tensions and expectations of large U.S. tax cuts.

Euro STOXX 50 futures STXec1 are up 0.2%, as the index looks to add to its almost-2% gain this week. A close higher on Friday would mark its fifth week of gains.

Major index futures in Frankfurt FDXc1, Paris FCEc1 and London FCIc1 are all up about 0.3%.

Overnight in Asia, shares were mixed, but have had a stellar week more broadly, with MSCI's main gauge of Asia-Pacific stocks ex-Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS up over 3%. Wall Street futures are little changed on Friday.

In corporate news, luxury group Richemont CFR.S reported a slightly stronger-than-forecast 7% rise in quarterly sales.

Reinsurer Swiss Re SRENH.S reported a 16% rise in quarterly profit, even after huge claims relating to the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles this year.

(Samuel Indyk)

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