UK Stocks - Factors to watch on Oct 15

 

Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening up as much as 0.4 percent, according to financial bookmakers, drawing strength from Wall Street where the Dow Jones industrial average passed the 10,000 level for the first time in a year on earnings optimism.

 The FTSE 100 closed 2 percent higher at 5,256.10 on Wednesday, hitting its highest closing level in more than a year after upbeat quarterly earnings from JP Morgan Chase gave a further boost to market sentiment in the wake of Intel's forecast-beating results.
  
 Shares in Asia rose to their highest since August last year, while Japanese stocks jumped 2 percent as investors bought exporters who might benefit from rising U.S. demand. 
 



 
 Later on Thursday results are due from Goldman Sachs and Citigroup 
  
 No British economic data is expected on Thursday, leaving the focus on U.S.CPI figures for September, due at 1230 GMT. 
  
 * Nikkei up 1.5 pct after JP Morgan, U.S. retail data
  
 * Dow passes 10,000 mark on earnings optimism
  
 * Aussie rise sparks broad dollar fall to 14-mth lows
  
 * Bonds sag, Wall Street rally parares safety bid
  
 * Asia shares hit 14-mth peak, dollar slumps
  
 * Copper rises on weak dollar, optimism on recovery
  
 * Gold steady above $1,060 on dollar, oil
  
 * Oil rises towards $76 on U.S. inventories, economy
  
  UK stocks to watch on Thursday are: 
  
 LLOYDS BANKING GROUP
 
 The British government will not underwrite a planned rights issue by Lloyds Banking Group, the Financial Times said on Thursday, citing people involved in the process.
  
 Lloyds, 43 percent owned by the UK taxpayer, said last month it was considering an exit from the government's costly scheme to insure against losses from bad debts.
  
 BHP BILLITON / RIO TINTO 
 
 BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have scrapped a plan to jointly market ore from a planned Australia joint venture, but will continue with the venture plan itself, the companies said in a joint statement on Thursday.
  
 Meanwhile, BHP Billiton will make public on Oct. 21 an assessment of damage suffered earlier this month at its giant Olympic Dam mine which threatens to disrupt world supplies of copper and uranium, a company spokeswoman said on Thursday.
  
 BANKS
 
 The Financial Services Authority (FSA) wants to closely vet senior job candidates when top banks draw up shortlists - not after they pinpoint a preferred candidate - Britain's financial regulator said on Wednesday.
  
 BSKYB 
 
 The company is set to respond to the emerging online television threat by announcing a deal with London-based IP Vision on Thursday that will enable viewers to watch its programming through a Freeview set-top box, the Guardian newspaper reported.
  
 SABMILLER 
 
 The beverage group releases a trading update.
  
 PREMIER FOODS 
 
 Britain's biggest food maker releases a trading update.
  
 WH SMITH 
 
 The retailer reports full-year results.
  
 AGGREKO 
 
 The power company releases a trading update.
  
 RENISHAW 
 
 The engineering company releases a trading update.
  
 BRITVIC
 
 The drinks company releases a trading update.
  
 MOTHERCARE 
 
 The baby products retailer issues a trading update.