Swiss stocks - Factors to watch on Jan 22

ZURICH Jan 22 (Reuters) - Swiss blue-chips were indicated sharply lower on Tuesday, extending its fall from the previous session when the Swiss Market Index .SSMI posted its biggest one-day loss since the September 11 attacks.

A loss of confidence in the strength of the U.S. economy, a result of the credit crisis last year, led to a sharp sell-off in European and Asian equities. On Monday, the SMI lost 5.3 percent to close at 7,287.14 points.

The Swiss index was indicated another 115 points lower on Tuesday at 7,171 points, according to pre-market data supplied by Clariden Leu CLPRE.

The following are some of the main factors expected to affect Swiss stocks on Tuesday:

ROCHE (ROG.VX)

Roche has agreed to buy Ventana Medical Systems Inc VMSI.O for $3.4 billion to boost its diagnostics business, the Swiss drugmaker said on Tuesday, raising its earlier bid.

For related news, click on [ROG.VX-RTRS-LEN]

BARRY CALLEBAUT(BARN.S)

Barry Callebaut(BARN.S), the world's largest chocolate maker, posted a forecast-beating 22 percent rise in first-quarter sales on Tuesday, but warned margins could face pressure due to high raw material prices.

For related news, click on [ATLN.VX-RTRS-LEN]

LINDT & SPRUENGLI LIPS.S(LISN.S)

Lindt & Spruengli posted a 14 percent rise in full-year sales to 2.95 billion Swiss francs ($2.68 billion) on Tuesday as expected.

For related news, click on [LISP.S-RTRS-LEN]

COMPANY STATEMENTS [CNR-CH]:

* Galenica (GALN.S) said sales increased by 17.5 percent to 2,529 million Swiss francs and earnings growth will be in the double-digit range [GALN.S-LEN]

* KudelskiKUD.VX said SKIDATA opened a new subsidiary in Spain [KUD.VX-LEN]

* SchulthessSGRN.S reports double-digit percentage growth in sales 2007 [SGRN.S-LEN]

* ArpidaARPN.S announced progress in pivotal phase III trial with TLT treatment in onychomycosis [ARPN.S-LEN]

* Komax(KOMN.S) lifted sales 2007 year by 10 percent to about 350 million Swiss francs [KOMN.S-LEN]

* Swisscom(SCMN.VX) offers free mobile phone calls

* Credit Suisse(CSGN.VX) commences equity brokerage operations

* Petroplus to Announce 2007 Results, February 7, 2008 PPHN.S

ECONOMY

* Swiss retail sales are due at 0815 GMT.

* The Swiss National Bank has no need to change its monetary policy at the moment, although the risks for the economy have increased, SNB board member Thomas Jordan said in a television interview late on Monday.

For related news, click on [CH-MCE-RTRS-LEN]

EQUITY RESEARCH [RCH/EUROPE]

* Merrill Lynch cuts Adecco (ADEN.VX) to neutral [ADEN.VX-LEN]

* Citigroup cuts Julius Baer (BAER.VX) price target [BAER.VX-LEN]

* Citigroup cuts Swatch (UHR.VX) price target [UHR.VX-LEN]

* Morgan Stanley cuts price targets on UBS (UBSN.VX), Credit suisse (CSGN.VX) [UBSN.VX-LEN] [CSGN.VX-LEN]

FOR COMPANIES TRADING EX-DIVIDEND, PLEASE CLICK ON:

.EX.S for all Swiss stocks

.EXSMI.S for blue chips

.EXNSMI.S for other stocks