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

BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES DIPS, PREPARING FOR EARNINGS SEASON

European shares were set for a softer start on Thursday as enthusiasm over Donald Trump's AI investment push ebbed following an industrial stocks-led rally the day before that drove both the STOXX 600 and Germany's DAX to lifetime highs.

Measures by China to boost its stock market reassured investors and might cushion any losses during the session ahead. Futures on the EuroSTOXX50 and FTSE indices fell 0.1-0.3%, about 30 minutes before the cash market open.

S&P 500 derivative contracts were also a touch lower after the index hit an intrday all-time high on Wednesday, lifted by AI optimism and Netflix results.

Overnight, Beijing announced plans to channel hundreds of billions of yuan from state-owned insurers into shares, measures that come soon after Trump's threat to slap a 10% punitive duty on Chinese imports.

Meanwhile in Europe, traders were preparing for the start of the earnings season, which is expected to show a third straight quarter of profit growth. STOXX earnings are estimated to have risen 1.5% or 4.9% excluding energy in Q4, per LSEG IBES.

Among the early releases, Swedbank SWEDa.ST beat dividend and operating profit expectations, helped by robust interest income and solid credit quality. "NII was the key positive of the result...", wrote Jefferies, also noting a lack of new information on a U.S. DoJ investigation.

Still in Sweden, high raw material costs and a strong U.S. dollar hurt margins at hygiene products maker Essity ESSITYa.ST. Its Q4 core earnings came below expectations.

Eyes were also on Volkswagen VOWG_p.DE. In a pre-close call before its official release on March 11, the automaker told its target of a 6% margin on the VW passenger car brand was now more realistic in the "medium term".

(Danilo Masoni)

*****

EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

CHINA'S SHOT IN THE ARM FOR MARKETS CLICK HERE