Adds blog post

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 BEFORE THE BELL: TECH SURGE, EARNINGS POINT TO OPENING GAINS

Futures are pointing to strong opening gains for European shares on Wednesday with the price of Brent back down to $108 a barrel, the relentless surge in global tech stocks took another leg higher, and a raft of earnings including from erstwhile market darling Novo Nordisk.

Euro STOXX futures are up around 1%, with FTSE futures not far behind. STXEc1, FFIc1

Markets took some heart from U.S. President Donald Trump saying there was "great progress" toward a comprehensive agreement with Iran.

However, unlike world shares, now at new records, European indexes are still trading below their pre-war peaks -- around 4% for the STOXX 600 - as investors see Europe as more exposed to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz than the United States.

In addition, Europe has relatively fewer of the high-flying tech stocks that have surged in Asia and the United States in recent days.

Shares in Advanced Micro Devices AMD.O jumped 16.5% in extended trading after the company forecast second-quarter revenue above Wall Street expectations on Tuesday, while on Wednesday, as the Seoul market reopened after a holiday, Samsung Electronics 005930.KS jumped 14.8%, topping a $1 trillion market value.

It doesn't take a market genius to note that European tech stocks might be in focus at the open. .SX8P

Eyes will also be on Novo Nordisk NOVOb.CO after it beat first-quarter profit forecasts and nudged up its full-year outlook on Wednesday, as sales of its new weight-loss pill came in stronger than expected.

There are a lot of earnings, but other notables include Diageo DGE.L posting surprise sales growth, BMW BMWG.DE reporting a sharp drop in first-quarter earnings and jumps in profits at defence groups LeonardoLDOF.MI and Renk.

(Alun John)

*****

EARLIER LIVE MARKETS POSTS

MORNING BID: STOCKS SURGE IN SEOUL AS SAMSUNG SURPASSES BERKSHIRE CLICK HERE