LIVE MARKETS-Banks and Bayer lend support

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BANKS AND BAYER LEND SUPPORT

European equities saw a muted open on Tuesday, except for Bayer BAYGn.DE, which stole the show with a 14.7% jump at its peak after favourable legal developments in the US.

Read more: Trump administration backs Bayer's bid to curb Roundup lawsuits.

Banks .SX7P rose 0.9%, providing the biggest lift to the region-wide STOXX 600 .STOXX, which was last up 0.2%.

UK lenders .FTNMX301010 surged broadly in line with their EU peers after the Bank of England eased capital requirements - the first reduction since the financial crisis.

RBC Capital Markets called the move constructive but not a game changer: "For banks already thinking about reducing their CET1 management targets, we do not see anything in this report which puts a spanner in the works."

Here is your opening snapshot:

(Danilo Masoni)

EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES STEADY, FOCUS ON BAYER, STOXX RESHUFFLE CLICK HERE

AUCTION BID STEADIES JAPAN BOND SLIDE CLICK HERE