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EUROPEAN STOCKS HOLD STEADY

European share indexes are mixed on Monday, with most major bourses hovering near the unchanged mark.

Attention remains on the Middle East, although markets seem to be at ease with bouts of escalation for as long as traffic flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

For now, the STOXX 600 .STOXX is up under 0.1%, holding just below its record high from last week.

Tech .SX8P leads gainers, recovering after a near 4% drop last week. The construction & materials sector .SXOP lags.

The FTSE .FTSE and CAC .FCHI are a touch softer, while Germany's DAX .GDAXI is up 0.3%.

In company news, British American Tobacco BATS.L shares are off about 1.5% after the company said it planned to reduce its workforce by about 20%.

Here's your opening snapshot:

(Samuel Indyk)

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EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES INCH UP CLICK HERE

MARKETS SWIVEL ON TECH, MIDEAST ANGST CLICK HERE