LIVE MARKETS-Mixed start, defence stocks lag

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MIXED START, DEFENCE STOCKS LAG

European shares opened lower on Monday, but have since picked up from the day's lows in the first hour of trading, with major bourses trading mixed.

The pan-continental STOXX 600 .STOXX is off by about 0.2%, having been down by about 0.5% at the open, with declining stocks outnumbering rising stocks by almost 2:1.

Germany's DAX .GDAXI and France's CAC .FCHI are a touch softer, while Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE is little changed.

The aerospace and defence sector .SXPARO lags, after what U.S. and Ukrainian officials described as "productive" talks on a peace deal with Russia, while there might also be some profit-taking after a strong year for the sector.

Airbus AIR.PA shares are down 2.4%, slightly underperforming the rest of the sector, after a software update was required for approximately 6,000 of its aircraft due to issues caused by solar flares.

Shares in miners .SXPP are rising as gold XAU= has touched its highest level since October 21, silver XAG= has risen to an all-time high and copper HGc2 has hit its highest since July.

Here's your opening snapshot:

(Samuel Indyk)

EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: RISK-OFF AFTER BLUE-RIBBON WEEK CLICK HERE

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