LIVE MARKETS-Europe before the bell: Futures tread water as Iran deadline nears
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EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES TREAD WATER AS IRAN DEADLINE NEARS
European equity futures are struggling for direction on Tuesday ahead of U.S. President Trump's midnight EDT deadline (0400 GMT) for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and agree a ceasefire or get "taken out".
Investors remain in wait-and-see mode ahead of the deadline, with Trump threatening massive strikes on Iranian infrastructure.
Euro STOXX 50 futures STXEc1 are little changed after the extended Easter break, with nervy investors sitting on the sidelines.
Futures on the DAX FDXc1, CAC FCEc1 and FTSE FFIc1 are down 0.1% to up 0.1%.
Oil prices are on the rise again as the rhetoric has ramped up, with Brent trading above $111 per barrel and WTI around $115.
Away from Iran, Universal Music Group UMG.AS will be in focus at the open after Pershing Square proposed a cash-and-stock deal worth over 55 billion euros for the company. UMG shares were up around 40% on the Tradegate platform.
(Samuel Indyk)
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