LIVE MARKETS-STOXX 600 heads for biggest monthly fall since June 2022

Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com

STOXX 600 HEADS FOR BIGGEST MONTHLY FALL SINCE JUNE 2022

Europe's STOXX 600 is trading higher on Tuesday but is still heading for its biggest monthly fall since 2022 and second biggest since the COVID pandemic in March 2020 as the Iran war wreaks havoc on markets.

The pan-continental benchmark .STOXX is up 0.8% on Tuesday, but down 7.6% for the month as the war in the Middle East sent oil prices surging, stoking worries about higher inflation and slower growth.

However, signs of de-escalation are helping shares on Tuesday, after the WSJ reported that Trump told aides he is willing to end the war even if the Strait of Hormuz were to remain largely closed.

The FTSE .FTSE, CAC .FCHI and DAX .GDAXI are all up by at least 0.7%, although all are heading for sharp monthly falls, with Germany's blue-chip index down over 10% in March.

While de-escalation talks are helping sentiment, the situation on the ground remains unsettling.

A giant, fully-loaded oil tanker was hit off the Dubai coast, while a drone crashed in an open area at Iraq's Qurna 1 oilfield, which is keeping oil elevated.

Here's your opening snapshot:

(Samuel Indyk)

EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES HIGHER ON IRAN DE-ESCALATION SIGNS CLICK HERE

SOME RESPITE FOR NERVY MARKETS AFTER BRUTAL MONTH CLICK HERE