European Factors to Watch-Shares to rebound after China growth data

LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - European shares were set to rebound on Friday, mirroring gains in Asian equities, after China's second-quarter growth data met forecasts but kept expectations alive that officials will take more steps to stimulate the world's second largest economy. Growth of 7.6 percent in the Spain 11/12 RAMOS Home Jersey second quarter from a year earlier was bang in line with market expectations but the slowest pace since the January-March quarter of 2009 and the sixth consecutive quarter of slower growth. "We feel the numbers are probably the best-case scenario for risk assets, as the print was just weak enough to keep the markets' anticipation of aggressive easing alive, while it was not too hot to take this notion away from the equation," IG Markets said in a note. "A closer look at the fixed asset investment and retail sales figures even suggests we have the platform many have been talking about that should see the Chinese economy stabilise into the third and fourth quarter, and we feel the PBOC will keep its pro-growth actions going," it said, referring to the country's central bank. Futures for Euro STOXX 50, Germany's DAX and France's CAC were up 0.4-0.5 percent. Financial spreadbetters earlier predicted Britain's FTSE 100 to open about 0.5 percent higher. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.7 percent. On Thursday, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares fell 1 percent to its lowest in more than a week, while U.S. shares dropped 0.3-0.8 percent. Friday's gains in shares could be capped on lingering concerns about some highly-indebted European countries and after Moody's surprised markets by downgrading Italy's government bond rating by two notches to Baa2. Moody's warned it could cut the rating further. The move piled pressure just hours before the country launches its latest bond sale. However, analysts said that sentiment had improved following some recent bold moves by policymakers to tackle the euro zone debt crisis and the sectors that derive strength from economic growth could be in favour. "The equity rally since early June was initially led by financials and resources, but has since been broader based. We expect further cyclical leadership over the coming months, driven by political progression in Europe and central bank activism around the world," Graham Bishop, senior equity strategist at Exane BNP Paribas, said in a strategy note. MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 0628 GMT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG S&P 500 1,334.76 -0.5 % -6.69 NIKKEI 8,724.12 0.05 % 4.11 MSCI ASIA EX-JP 0.68 % 3.19 EUR/USD 1.2203 0.06 % 0.0007 USD/JPY 79.25 -0.04 % -0.0300 10-YR US TSY YLD 1.474 -- 0.00 10-YR BUND YLD 1.244 -- 0.00 SPOT GOLD $1,571.84 0.09 % $1.35 US CRUDE $86.27 0.22 % 0.19 * Shares jump on relief after China GDP, Caution stays * Nikkei almost flat after China data as worries linger * Wall St drops on tech warnings; P&G cuts Dow's loss * Aussie firm after China GDP;Italy downgrade weighs on euro * Brent stays above $100 as supply fears offset China GDP * Gold headed for 2nd losing week as dollar firms * Safe-haven bidding pushes yields near historic lows COMPANY NEWS PSA PEUGEOT CITROEN The French automaker, which has announced 8,000 job cuts and a plant closure as it struggles with mounting losses, is not going to seek aid from the French government, Chief Executive Philippe Varin said on Thursday. VIVENDI Chairman Jean-Rene Fourtou said the media-to-telecom conglomerate may sell its $8.1 billion stake in video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc, Bloomberg reported on Thursday citing an interview with the executive. STOREBRAND Norwegian insurance firm Storebrand posted second-quarter earnings below expectations on Friday and said it did not plan to raise new equity capital to manage the transition to the new Solvency II framework. VEOLIA An infrastructure fund that spun out of the bailed-out insurer American International Group is in advanced discussions to buy Veolia Environment SA's U.S. waste management business, in a deal that could be valued at as much as $2 billion, according to three people familiar the matter. Veolia declined to comment while Highstar did not respond to a request for comment. LLOYDS BANKING GROUP Lloyds is close to selling over 600 branches to the Co-operative Group at a steep discount to the previously mooted 1.5 billion-pound price tag, the Financial Times reported. VOLKSWAGEN Europe's largest automotive group sold 1.3 Toms Shoes Sale million cars in mainland China and Hong Kong in the first half of the year, up 17.5 percent from a year earlier. EADS Aircraft makers Airbus and Boeing, left a rain-swept Farnborough Airshow with the U.S. rival winning 50 percent more firm orders than Airbus, including a $14.7 billion bulk buy from United Continental. FONDIARIA-SAI, UNIPOL Fondiaria and Unipol said their twin 1.1 billion euro ($1.3 billion) capital increases were poised to start July 16, bringing them closer to creating Italy's second-largest insurance group.

Braun hits into 3 DPs as Brewers lose to Marlins

Ryan Braun had a tough day. So did the rest of the Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee had no answer for Carlos Lee, who doubled and scored in his Miami debut, and Mark Buerhle, who struck out a season-best eight over 7 2-3 innings, and the Brewers lost 4-0 to the Marlins on Thursday. The Brewers put up 25 runs the previous three games but Buehrle (8-8) shut them down, allowing only six hits. "You don't really get too many opportunities when you're facing good pitchers and they're on top Spain Euro 2012 Jersey of their game," Braun said after going 0 for 4 and hitting into three double plays. "Unfortunately, a couple of those balls I hit really hard, but right at guys." The Brewers were 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base. "We didn't get too many chances," Braun said. "When you do get baserunners on against a quality pitcher, you have to take advantage of it." The Brewers tested Buehrle in the fourth when they put runners at the corners with two outs, but he worked out of trouble by striking out Rickie Weeks. "Maybe they're tired of swinging the bats so much and getting runs," Buehrle said jokingly. "We scored just a few more than they did." Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen relieved Buerhle with one on and two outs in the eighth, and Steve Cishek stranded Cody Ransom at second when he struck out pinch-hitter Travis Ishikawa. Buehrle, who came in with a 1.29 ERA in his last two starts, has three consecutive wins with at least seven strikeouts. His current run came after four straight losses. Milwaukee starter Mike Fiers (3-3) said that Buehrle is tough even though for most of the game he was just as good. "Everything kind of looks like a fastball," Fiers said of Buehrle's pitching. "That's why he's one of the best pitchers. To get a couple runs off him is big, but he had one of those games today." The last four Brewers games have been one-run games and decided in the last at-bat. Greg Dobbs made it tougher for Milwaukee to duplicate that when he hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer off Jose Veras in the top of the ninth for Miami. Randy Choate started the ninth and immediately hit Norichika Aoki, prompting Guillen to bring in Heath Bell, who got Ryan Braun to hit into his third double play of the game. "It's rare," Braun said of his futility. "It's a rare occurrence." Aramis Ramirez then singled, but Bell struck out Corey Hart to end it. Lee needed just two at-bats in his first game with the Marlins to make his presence known. He Spain 11/12 RAMOS Home Jersey struck out in the first before doubling in the fourth. Hustling all the way, he scored easily on Logan Morrison's single. "That's the way I play the game," Lee said. "I always enjoy my time. Have fun, and like I say, try my best." Morrison snapped Fiers' streak of scoreless innings at 21 1-3 with the run-scoring hit. Fiers (3-3) allowed two runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out nine, one off his season high. Unrattled, Fiers was just as tough as Buehrle and limited Miami to that one run on six hits until getting chased in the eighth. "If you look at just stuff, you might say, 'Well, he's pitching better than you think he is,'" Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "He's got deception." Jose Reyes singled and took third on Lee's one-out single. Manny Parra relieved Fiers, who left to a standing ovation. Morrison hit into a fielder's choice to score Reyes before Veras took over for Parra and retired Justin Ruggiano on a grounder to second to end the inning. Lee, acquired in a trade with the Houston Astros on Wednesday, started at first base. NOTES: The temperature was 101 degrees at first pitch. ... Aoki extended his Brewers-best hitting streak to 12 games. ... The Brewers are 22-21 at Miller Park so far this season. ... Marlins All-Star RF Giancarlo Stanton missed his third consecutive game with discomfort in his right knee. Guillen said that he won't play Friday against the Cardinals in St. Louis.