Jan 17 (Reuters) - Highlights of Thursday's fourth day of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year (all times GMT):

MILAN (Reuters) - European shares fell on Thursday with banks leading the way after Societe Generale warned that tough market conditions would hit its quarterly results, while fresh frictions over Chinese tech giant Huawei that revived trade worries also weighed.

LONDON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Leaving the European Union at the end of March without a deal would be "reckless" for Britain, the finance chief of Associated British Foods said on Thursday.

LONDON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Investors in British stocks turned their focus from political to company developments on Thursday as results from software firm Sage, Primark owner ABF, and bookmaker GVC triggered big moves and weak house sales data dented shares in housebuilders.

LONDON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - A delay to Brexit is now inevitable, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Thursday, after lawmakers defeated Theresa May's European Union withdrawal deal.

AMSTERDAM, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Turkey on Thursday deported a journalist for the largest Dutch financial newspaper, Het Financieele Dagblad, citing unspecified 'security-related concerns', the paper said.

BERLIN (Reuters) - A recent dip in euro zone inflation and growth was anticipated so it is not enough to unravel expectations of an interest rate hike, Sabine Lautenschlaeger, the most prominent hawk on the ECB Executive Board, said in an interview with Politico.

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Turkey deported a journalist for the largest Dutch daily financial paper on Thursday, Het Financieele Dagblad, citing unspecified 'security-related concerns', the paper said.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Kei Nishikori made another great escape at the Australian Open on Thursday, surviving a second five-set battle and 59 aces from Ivo Karlovic to squeeze into the third round.