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April 12 (Reuters) - European stocks eased from all-time
highs on Monday as investors held off from making big bets ahead
of the earnings season, while British retailers were set to
reopen as the economy emerges from a strict winter lockdown.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX slipped 0.1% by
0711 GMT, following Asian markets into the red as investors
waited to see if U.S. earnings can justify sky-high valuations.
There were some concerns as COVID-19 cases continued to surge
globally. MKTS/GLOB
UK's domestically focussed FTSE mid 250 index .FTMC inched
0.2% lower, but hovered below a record high as shops, pubs, gyms
and hairdressers reopened after three months of lockdown.
Airlines EasyJet EZJ.L and Ryanair RYA.I fell close to
3% after HSBC downgraded their stocks to "hold" from "buy".
Italian diagnostics group DiaSorin SpA DIAS.MI jumped 7.5%
after it said it will acquire U.S. based Luminex Corp LMNX.O
for $1.8 billion in an all-cash deal.