LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: Stocks set for earnings, M&A boost

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EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: STOCKS SET FOR EARNINGS, M&A BOOST

European equity futures are higher on Thursday after a raft of corporate earnings, including numbers from regional heavyweights Hermes, AB Inbev, Siemens and L'Oreal.

Euro STOXX 50 futures STXEc1 are up 0.8% and the index looks set to breach its record high from earlier this week at the open.

Futures on the DAX FDXc1, CAC FCEc1 and FTSE FFIc1 are up 0.5% to 1.5%.

Stocks in Asia .MIAPJ0000PUS hit a new record overnight, while U.S. futures .EScv1 are a touch higher after a subdued day on Wall Street on Wednesday.

It's been another day of hefty corporate news flow in Europe, not only earnings but M&A and personnel changes too.

British asset manager Schroders SDR.L has agreed to be taken oven by U.S. peer Nuveen in a deal valued at 9.9 billion pounds.

France's largest pharmaceutical company Sanofi SASY.PA has announced a change in leadership with Belén Garijo appointed as the company's new CEO, replacing current chief Paul Hudson.

(Samuel Indyk)

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