LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: mood buoyant even as trade tension bubble

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EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: MOOD BUOYANT EVEN AS TRADE TENSIONS BUBBLE

European futures are hinting at rises at the open as the mood stays buoyant, even as trade uncertainty bubbles with Wednesday marking the deadline for U.S. trading partners to submit their 'best offers', not to mention the advent of higher U.S. tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.

Euro STOXX 50 futures STXEc1 are adding 0.3%, while futures on the DAX FDXc1 are 0.5% higher and FTSE FFIc1 futures are up 0.1%.

Such rises would see Europe track a rebound in U.S. stocks so far this week, with the benchmark S&P 500 .SPX having risen 1% over the last two sessions.

In company news, French spirits group Remy Cointreau RCOP.PA reported a smaller-than-expected 30.5% drop in annual organic operating profit and withdrew its mid-term goals and said sales would return to mid-to-single-digit growth during the next financial year.

Swedish banking group Swedbank SWEDa.ST is setting a target of at least 15% return on equity in the coming years but flagged geopolitical tensions were creating uncertainty.

In the UK, discount retailer B&M's BMEB.L reported annual sales fell short of expectations, as waning consumer demand and persistent inflation hampered its UK operations.

On Tuesday after the close Mediobanca investor Caltagirone urged the bank to delay a shareholder vote on the bid for the private bank Banca Generali BGN.MI.

(Lucy Raitano)

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