European Factors to Watch-Shares seen opening lower ahead of ECB – Reuters

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Oct 22 (Reuters) – European stocks were seen opening slightly lower on Thursday amid caution ahead of a European Central Bank policy meeting later in the day.

Financial spreadbetters expected Britain’s FTSE 100 to open 23-27 points lower, or 0.36-0.42 percent, Germany’s DAX to open 32-36 points down, or 0.31-0.35 percent, and France’s CAC 40 to open 20 points down, or 0.42 percent.

The European Central Bank is likely to keep the door open for more monetary stimulus but stop short of taking new policy steps at a meeting on Thursday as it awaits fresh indications about the outlook for euro zone inflation.

COMPANY NEWS

ROCHE

The world’s biggest cancer drug company raised its full-year sales outlook after reporting revenue in the first nine months of the year increased more than analysts had forecast.

LOGITECH

The computer accessory maker said its second-quarter retail sales rose 12 percent in constant currency to $ 496 million, its best retail sales growth in almost five years, and confirmed its financial outlook for 2016.

CREDIT SUISSE

The Swiss bank expects 2016 to be a difficult year because of its planned restructuring, Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam said on Wednesday.

Ted Seides, a hedge fund executive who was due to join Credit Suisse on Oct 1, sent an email to contacts on Wednesday saying he decided not to work at the Swiss bank after all.

UBS

Switzerland’s biggest bank will meet new Swiss capital rules by the time they come into force, it said on Wednesday.

VOLKSWAGEN

Volkswagen said on Wednesday about 3 million cars in Europe have 1.6 litre engines, which will require hardware changes in the wake of the company’s diesel emissions rigging scandal.

VONOVIA, DEUTSCHE WOHNEN, LEG IMMOBILIEN

Deutsche Wohnen has scrapped its planned acquisition of smaller domestic rival LEG because it failed to win enough shareholder support. Deutsche Wohnen also reiterated that it was not interested in being bought by Vonovia.

DAIMLER

Q3 results due. The carmaker’s adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) are seen up 22 percent at 3.39 billion euros ($ 3.85 billion). Poll:

BANKINTER

Spanish lender Bankinter BKT.MC is expected to report a 46 percent increase in net profit in the first nine months from a year earlier on Thursday, according to a Reuters poll.

ABERTIS

Abertis said on Wednesday it had seen acceptance of 48.1 percent of its capital for its offer to buy back 6.5 percent of its own shares.

EDF

China’s CGN has agreed to invest 6 billion pounds ($ 9 billion) in French utility EDF’s EDF.PA Hinkley Point C nuclear power station project in Britain.

VALEO

French car parts maker Valeo cut its outlook for this year’s automotive production growth on Wednesday, as higher growth in Europe was not seen enough to offset lower projections for the Chinese market.

EIFFAGE

Bpifrance launches the disposal of part of its stake in eiffage. Disposal by bpifrance of about 2.8 mln eiffage shares, representing about 2.9 percent of eiffage share capital, through accelerated book built offering.

> Asian shares, dollar, euro steady as markets await ECB meeting > Wall Street declines; Valeant, healthcare weigh > Nikkei edges up as investors shift to defensive shares > U.S. debt gains as stocks slip on world growth worries > Euro edges up but top-heavy as investors await ECB meeting > Gold hovers near lowest in a week on firm dollar > London copper edges up, better China imports support > Oil prices move higher on weaker dollar, hold above three-week low (Reporting by Danilo Masoni)