LIVE MARKETS-STOXX rises as results impress, FTSE 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 STOXX RISES AS RESULTS IMPRESS, FTSE AT RECORD The STOXX 600 (.STOXX) is adding 0.6%, while the UK’s FTSE 100 is at a record high as a stream of stellar corporate earnings from tech, to retail and healthcare push the index higher. On a sector basis, tech names (.SX8P) are the best performers, surging 1.7%, while retail (.SXRP) gets a 1.3% boost. Britain’s sportswear retailer JD Sports Fashion (JD.L) is supporting the latter, up 6.1% after proposing to buy American athletic fashion retailer Hibbett (HIBB.O) for about $1.08 billion. Germany’s Aixtron (AIXGn.DE) , which provides equipment to the semiconductor industry, is boosting tech, up 4.5% after its production platform was chosen by Vishay Intertechnology. The top riser of the overall index though is Swedish banking platform Nordnet (SAVE.ST) , up 9.1% after a Q1 profit beat. Britain’s FTSE 100 (.FTSE) surpassed its previous record high shortly after the open, with miner Ferrexpo (FXPO.L) as the UK’s top mover, up 9.8% after a strong Q1 production report and a broker upragde. Nevertheless, the overall STOXX basic resources index (.SXPP) is off 1.3%, the worst performing sector as Anglo American (AAL.L) sheds 3% following a Q1 production report. Rio Tinto (RIO.L) and Glencore (GLEN.L) are down between 1.3%-1.6%. Primark-owner Associated British Foods Plc (ABF.L) is also proving a boon for the FTSE, up 8.8% after reporting a 39% jump in Q1 profit. (Lucy Raitano) FOR TUESDAY’S OTHER LIVE MARKETS POSTS FUTURES RISE AMID FLURRY OF UPBEAT EARNINGS CLICK HERE EYES ON PMIS FOR REBOUND SIGNS CLICK HERE Yen weakens to a 34 year low