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UK Stocks - Factors to watch on Feb 22

Source: Reuters - Mon 22th Feb 2010

Britain's FTSE 100 is seen opening 11-20 points higher, rising for a sixth consecutive session, with energy stocks likely to see support as crude moves back above $80 a barrel.

The blue-chip index is seen opening up as much as 0.4 percent after it closed 0.6 percent higher on Friday at 5,358.17, its highest closing level in a month, posting its best weekly performance since July.

Asian stocks outside Japan rose on Monday lifted by stronger commodity prices, while Japan's Nikkei added 2.7 percent as exporters rose on the back of a weaker yen.

Oil prices rose to a six-week high above $80 a barrel on Monday, extending the previous session's gains, as speculation over a quick bailout for debt-laden Athens helped pushed the dollar lower.

With no top-line data due for release on Monday, investors will look ahead to U.S. consumer confidence numbers on Tuesday for signs to the strength of the recovery.

Banks will be in focus once again after Britain's opposition Conservatives announced plans on Sunday to encourage taxpayers to buy shares in banks that were part-nationalised during the credit crunch, presenting this as a "people'sbank bonus".

The plans were dismissed by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson as a "silly little gimmick", the Financial Times reported.

* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia shrs up, gold firm, dlr rally pauses

* US STOCKS-Wall St edges up but rate worries linger

* Nikkei hits 3-week closing high, exporters climb

* Oil strikes 6-week high amid Greece bailout talk

* FOREX-Dollar slips; euro lifted by bailout talk

* PRECIOUS-Gold hits 1-mth high on euro; may test new highs

* METALS-Shanghai copper rallies after break, policy weighs

* TREASURIES-Slip in Asia as stocks rise, Bernanke eyed

UK stocks to watch on Monday are:

GLAXOSMITHKLINE

Two U.S. drug safety reviewers have recommended that GlaxoSmithKline's diabetes drug Avandia be pulled from the market after concluding it is more dangerous to the heart than a rival medicine, according to documents released on Saturday.

ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, LLOYDS BANKING GROUP

Stephen Hester, chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, will forgo his 2009 bonus, sources close to the situation said on Sunday, as the rescued bank hammers out a pay deal for staff with the British government.

Separately, Business Secretary Peter Mandelson said on Sunday that Britain's loss-making, bailed-out banks should be restrained as they decide on bonuses for top executives ahead of reporting their annual results this week,putting pressure on Hester and his counterpart at Lloyds Eric Daniels.

BRITISH AIRWAYS

The airline's passengers face prolonged travel disruption next month ascabin crew push for a strike lasting at least 10 days if a ballot result, due from on Monday, endorses industrial action, the Guardian said on Monday.

RIO TINTO

The global miner Rio Tinto said it has started iron ore production at a $901 million mine in the Robe Valley in Australia's Pilbara region.

XSTRATA

Glencore, the Swiss commodities trader, is sounding out potential partners as it prepares to buy-back the $2.5 billion Prodeco coalmine owned by Xstrata,The Times said on Monday.

LONDON STOCK EXCHNAGE

Euroclear, which owns the Crest securities settlement system in the UK, is to decide whether it will change the way it charges businesses fees to trade on the LSE, the Financial Times said. The decision follows a campaign by LSE chief executive Xavier Rolet to cut costs for the exchange's biggest customers.

VT GROUP, BABCOCK BROWN

UK defence services firm VT Group said on Sunday it was preparing a shareholder payout worth some 230 million pounds ($354 million) to fight off a bid from Babcock International.

One of VT Group's leading shareholders has criticised the proposed special dividend, for putting the company "back at square one". Tim Steer at Artemis,the fund manager which holds around five percent of VT Group shares, said the payout could put a stop to its 330 million pound offer for Mouchel.

SERCO

Outsourcing group Serco is to assume management of the government's Yorkshire-based Emergency Planning College, in the latest sign that private sector firms are becoming involved in "mission critical" functions, the Financial Times said.

ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS

The food group releases its final results.

BUNZL

The packaging firm releases its fourth quarter results.

HAMMERSON

The property firm releases its fourth quarter results.

ALBERMARLE & BOND

The pawn broking broker posts first-half results.

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