Live Markets: Europe at half-time: countdown to the ECB's 'insurance hike'

Halma

Today 12:28

Adds blog post
STOXX 600 up 0.8%
U.S. and Iran trade strikes for second day
ECB set to hike
Kospi equity volatility hits record
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.
     
EUROPE AT HALF-TIME: COUNTDOWN TO ECB'S 'INSURANCE HIKE'
The European Central Bank will deliver its decision on rates in about an hour's time and the STOXX 600 .STOXX is heading for its biggest one-day rise this month, up 0.7%. 
An "insurance hike" is baked in so the focus will be on what ECB President Christine Lagarde signals about the outlook for monetary policy.
Part of the upbeat mood in the equity market is news that Iranian sources said talks with the United States on a preliminary agreement had intensified, even though both sides traded air attacks on Thursday, and President Donald Trump threatened more strikes unless Tehran immediately agrees to a peace deal.
In the ascendant are the usual heavyweights, with ASML ASML.AS up nearly 3%, HSBC HSBA.L up 2.6% and Novartis NOVN.S up 1.66%. On the downside, shares in UK health and safety device maker Halma HLMA.L are down over 15% on the day, making these the second-largest negative weight on the STOXX behind SAP SAPG.DE. 
The German tech company's shares are down 4%, as Oracle ORCL.N stock drops 8% in the premarket following results on Wednesday evening that contained much higher capital spending than expected.  
(Amanda Cooper)
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EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS: 
A RECORD WEEK FOR VOLATILITY IN SEOUL CLICK HERE
FRIDAY'S TECH SELLOFF VS TUESDAY'S CLICK HERE
POSITIVE START (CLICK HERE)
EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: NOT YOUR EVERYDAY CEASEFIRE (CLICK HERE)
TECH AND WAR JITTERS SAP CONFIDENCE (CLICK HERE)
     
     

Inflation gauges https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-STOCKS/lgpdgybgyvo/inflation.png
Debt-fuelled boom https://www.reuters.com/graphics/KOREA-STOCKS/akpergqbrvr/chart.png