UK Stocks - Factors to watch on Sept 22

 

Britain's FTSE 100 is seen opening 8-11 points higher on Tuesday, or up as much as 0.2 percent with firmer commodity prices set to provide support for heavyweight miners and energy stocks.

The blue chip index is seen gaining after it closed 0.7 percent lower at 5,134.36 on Monday, ending a six-session winning streak.

Oil rose to $70 a barrel CLc1, while metal prices were also slightly firmer after some weakness in the previous session.

The Dow industrials and S&P 500 retreated on Monday, but the Nasdaq rose, buoyed by a broker upgrade in the bio-technology sector. Asian trade was subdued on Tuesday with Japan closed again for a public holiday.

Equity trading is likely to be fairly subdued ahead of a two-day U.S.Federal Reserve meeting which begins on Tuesday and a G20 meeting at the end of the week.

There is substantial support among the G20 for creating a new framework to help tackle global economic imbalances and prevent future crises, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Tuesday.

* Dow, S&P hit by commodities; Nasdaq up on biotech

* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares subdued, Kiwi hits 13-mth high

* Dollar dips after bounce, kiwi hits 13-mth high

* Oil rises to $70, traders seek demand recovery signs

* Gold bounces from 1-week low; dollar may limit upside

* TREASURIES-Long-dated prices slip ahead of Fed meeting

* METALS-Copper steady as bears lick wounds

UK stocks to watch on Tuesday are:

CADBURY

The confectionary company has approached the UK takeover panel to ask Kraft Foods Inc to either make a formal takeover proposal or walk away for six months, the Financial Times said citing people close to the matter.

CONSTRUCTION

More than 100 British construction firms including Balfour Beatty face fines of more than 200 million pounds on Tuesday when the Office of Fair Trading concludes its investigation into bid rigging, the Guardian said. The OFT will announce to the stock exchange the results of its five year investigation into the cartel behaviour, the paper reported.

GLAXOSMITHKLINE

The drugmaker said on Monday it will pare back funding for continuing medical education seminars

ITV

The managing director of investment group Pirc has criticised the large pay package demanded by Tony Ball, the prospective new chairman of the TV company, the Guardian said.

RIO TINTO

The global miner is selling its Alcan Composites business, which makes aluminium construction material used in wind farms to Swiss machinery firm Schweiter Technologies

BP

The new chief executive officer of TNK-BP will be decided by the end of the year, major share holder and billionaire Viktor Vekselberg told Interfax on Monday. Velkselberg split TNK-BP's ownership 50-50 with BP.

IMPERIAL TOBACCO

The company releases a trading update.

JD SPORTS FASHION

The retailer releases first-half results.

NORTHGATE

The company holds its annual general meeting.