STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Europe stocks weak despite higher Wall St

STOCKS NEWS Reuters Results diary

Stocks on the move [HOT-RTRS] Real-time Equity News [E] [WEU/EQUITY]

13:46GMT 26March2009-Europe stocks stay weak despite higher Wall St

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European shares stay weak as Wall Street opens up after reports on economic growth and jobless claims come in as expected with banking stocks one of the biggest risers.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 is down 0.3 percent at 741.66 points in a choppy session, while the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI, the S&P 500 index .SPX and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC are up 0.9-1.6 percent.

Banking stocks are higher with Barclays (BARC.L), BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA), Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) and Banco Santander (SAN.MC) up 0.7-8.6 percent.

Utility shares are on the downside, with E.ON (EONGn.DE) down 1.1 percent.

Reuters Messaging rm://joanne.frearson.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net

12:25GMT 26Mar2009-FTSE Small Caps up 0.3 percent at midday

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The FTSE Small Cap index .FTSC climbs 0.3 percent in mid session trade, marginally extending earlier gains as the FTSE 100 index .FTSE slips 0.1 percent higher, and the midcaps .FTMC fall 0.2 percent.

British Boutique advisory company Cenkos Securities (CNKS.L) soars 37 percent as the company for says it has weathered the current financial crisis better than its competitors and it has attracted new clients, while cutting its final dividend to 5 pence from 12 pence.

Songbird Estates SBDb.L falls 25 percent after admitting it risks breaching loan covenants in the next 12 months due to a sharp fall in the value of its properties and reporting a 70 percent decline in its underlying net asset value per share at the end of 2008

Reuters Messaging rm://david.brett.reuters.com@reuters.net

12:22GMT 26Mar2009-Aquarius jumps on share placing plan