Swiss stocks - Factors to watch on March 31

ZURICH, March 31 (Reuters) - Swiss shares are expected to fall on Monday as concerns about further writedowns were likely to weigh on the shares of Switzerland's largest bank UBS(UBSN.VX).

The Swiss blue-chip index SMI was indicated to fall 50 points at open to 7,188 points, data provided by bank Clariden Leu showed.CLPRE

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

UBS (UBSN.VX)

UBS shares are tipped to fall 3 percent at the open CLPRE2 on concerns about its $5.9 billion exposure to Auction Rate Securities (ARS), a class of structured investments that have suffered liquidity problems in the financial crisis.

Investors this week await agenda details from UBS's shareholder meeting in April with expectations running strong that bank will need to make preparations for another capital hike. Markets see it as a near certainty the bank will need further credit writedowns.

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

BARRY CALLEBAUT(BARN.S)

Switzerland's Barry Callebaut said on Monday it was buying a 60 percent stake in Malaysia's KL Kepong Cocoa Products Sdn Bhd as the world's largest chocolate maker expands further into Asia.

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

UBP [UBP.UL]

Swiss private bank and hedge fund specialist Union Bancaire Privee and Italy's Banco Popolare bank (BAPO.MI) have entered into a strategic partnership in alternative asset management, UBP said on Sunday.

For related news, click on [UBP.UL-LEN-RTRS]

ECONOMY

The Swiss economy cannot escape the effects of the financial crisis, the Swiss government said on Monday, lowering its growth outlook for 2009 slightly to 1.5 percent from a previous forecast of 1.7 percent.

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

COMPANY STATEMENTS [CNR-CH]

* Gurit started well into new fiscal year [GUR.S-LEN]

* Daetwyler delivers record revenue & profit levels [DAE.S-LEN]

* BioXell invites shareholders to its OGM & EGM [BXLN.S-LEN]

* UBP announces strategic partnership with Banco Popolare [UBP.UL-LEN]

EQUITY RESEARCH [CH-RCH]

FOR COMPANIES TRADING EX-DIVIDEND, PLEASE CLICK ON:

.EX.S for all Swiss stocks

.EXSMI.S for blue chips

.EXNSMI.S for other stocks