LIVE MARKETS-STOXX set for monthly fall, but a steady quarter

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STOXX SET FOR MONTHLY FALL, BUT A STEADY QUARTER

Europe's STOXX 600 .STOXX is up 0.6% on the day: a boost for the index as the month, and quarter, come to an end.

That leaves it down 1.5% across September after rising for five consecutive months.

The cross-European index is pretty much ending Q3 where it started. Quite the difference from the 10% gain it recorded in Q2.

And who knows what the last quarter of the year will bring: with central bank interest rates, energy prices and government bond yields all looking like they will stay elevated for some time, global stocks are facing quite the test.

But back to what's happening today. The FTSE .FTSE is up 0.7%, the DAX .GDAXI is 0.4% higher and the CAC .FCHI is hovering just above the flatline.

Utilities stocks .SX6P are the biggest sectoral winner, up 1.7%, boosted by British utility companies. Oil and gas stocks .SXEP are meanwhile lagging, down 0.9%.

Shares in Greggs GRG.L are up close to 6% after the British fast-food chain raised its annual profit outlook, and shares in German drug-packaging maker Gerresheimer GXIG.DE are nearly 5% higher after the company reported a sequential recovery in its second-quarter revenue.

(Sophie Kiderlin)

EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

BEFORE THE BELL: SET TO END THE MONTH ON A HIGH NOTE CLICK HERE

A CRUEL QUARTER FOR BONDS CLICK HERE