European Factors--Shares set to ease, cenbanks in focus

(Updates with stock index futures, company news)

LONDON, April 10 (Reuters) - European shares are expected to
decline modestly on Thursday ahead of two key central bank rate decisions, after
a fall on Wall Street.

By 0625 GMT June Eurostoxx 50 STXEM8 and June DAX futures FDXM8 were
down 0.3 percent, while April CAC-40 futures FCEc1 were down 0.2 percent.

U.S. stocks fell after crude oil futures CLc1 spiked to $112 a barrel and
United Parcel Service (UPS.N) cut its earnings forecast, which refreshed concern
over the outlook for corporate profits.

In Europe, the spotlight is on the central banks.

The Bank of England delivers its rate decision at 1100 GMT and is widely
expected to cut British rates by a quarter of a percentage point to 5.00
percent, while the European Central Bank releases its decision at 1145 GMT and
is expected to leave euro zone rates at 4 percent.

"We're looking for a slightly softer open across most of Europe today after
falls in the U.S. and Asia on the back of record oil prices plus a swathe of
disappointing economic news," said Samir Tazi, a trader at CMC Markets.

"Highlights today however should include the full year results from Vedanta
and with miners already likely to be finding upside off yesterday's hike in
metals prices, the sector as a whole could be one worth watching today, but with
solid consensus over the rate verdicts from the ECB and BoE now in place, only a
surprise here will provide much momentum into the afternoon."

Vedanta (VED.L) said fourth-quarter copper cathode output in India rose 1.1
percent, while cathode production in Zambia fell 8.1 percent

Also on the corporate front, the utilities sector could get a boost from a
report in the Financial Times that said Germany's RWE (RWEG.DE) has made a bid
for British Energy BGY.L that would value the nuclear power company at 11
billion pounds ($21.7 billion). RWE and British Energy declined to comment on
the report.

----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 0626 GMT----------------------

LAST PCT CHG NET CHG

S&P 500 .SPX 1,354.49 -0.81 % -11.05

NIKKEI .N225 12,945.30 -1.27 % -166.59

MSCI ASIA EX-JP .MIASJ0000PUS 547.59 0.70 % 3.81

EUR/USD EUR= 1.5831 0.01 % 0.0001

USD/JPY JPY= 100.91 -0.78 % -0.7900

10-YR US TSY YLD US10YT=RR 3.469 -- -0.01

10-YR BUND YLD EU10YT=RR 3.977 -- -0.01

SPOT GOLD XAU= $931.10 -0.29 % -$2.70

US CRUDE CLc1 $110.87 0.00 % 0.00

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* Major Asian stock indexes fall; dollar weak [ID:nL10297516]

* Dollar falls 1 yen from day's high on growth worry [ID:nTKW002896]

* Nikkei pares losses, but economic woes weigh [ID:nT186304]

* Oil hovers below record after fall in U.S. stocks [ID:nSP67885]

* Gold keeps gains after surge but IMF plan weighs [ID:nT20959]

* Treasuries prices up on US recession worries, stocks fall [ID:nL10194426]

* Oil's jump over $112, UPS warning spark Wall St sell-off [ID:nL10191830]

COMPANY NEWS:

RWE (RWEG.DE), BRITISH ENERGY BGY.L

The German utility has made indicative all-cash offer of close to 700 pence
a share for British Energy Group PLC BGY.L, according to Britain's Financial
Times, which cited sources close to the situation. The FT said the offer for
British Energy could value the UK nuclear power company at up to 11 billion
pounds ($21.7 billion). [nWEN4871]

BHP BILLITON LTD (BHP.AX) (BLT.L)

The world's top miner said on Thursday it was not aware of any plan by China
to buy a stake in the company. BHP shares edged up 0.3 percent in Australia to
A$42.00, adding to Wednesday's 3.7 percent rise after a media report said that
China was planning to buy more than 9 percent stake. [nSYD72728]

ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND (RBS) (RBS.L)

The banks being sued in the Clear Channel Communications Inc. (CCU.N) buyout
case -- including RBS -- asked a Texas court to throw out a lawsuit filed
against them, court documents dated Tuesday showed. [nN09388183]

DEUTSCHE BANK (DBKGn.DE)

Bank Chief Executive Josef Ackermann will attend a meeting in Washington on
Friday with Group of Seven officials and top financial firm executives to
discuss ways to avert a financial crisis, a bank spokesman said on Wednesday.
[nN09284164]

UBS (UBSN.VX)

The Swiss bank has started meeting institutional investors in the U.S. and
Europe to market its 15 billion Swiss francs ($14.84 billion) rights issue
before a general shareholder meeting later this month.[nL09900641]

VEDANTA (VED.L)

India-focused metals group Vedanta Resources posted a 1.1 percent rise in
fourth-quarter copper cathode output in India to 90,000 tonnes, but cathode
production in Zambia fell 8.1 percent to 34,000 tonnes. [nWLB9604]

MITCHELLS & BUTLERS (MAB.L)

Private equity firms CVC Capital Partners and Blackstone (BX.N) have made a
joint bid to buy a stake of up to 29.9 percent in the up-for-sale restaurant and
pub firm the Times reported on Thursday. [nL10383096]

HEINEKEN NV (HEIN.AS)
The Dutch brewer plans to buy the beverage division of Switzerland's Eichhof
Holding AG EIN.S for 278.5 million Swiss francs ($275.5 million), the brewer
said on Thursday. [L10306062]

TOTAL (TOTF.PA)

Russian regions are claiming up to $170 billion from the French oil group in
a legal case going back to the tumultous expansion at Elf Aquitaine, now part of
Total, Le Figaro newspaper said on Thursday. [nL10287277]

ING (ING.AS)

The Dutch financial services group has weathered the credit crisis well and
is in a strong position to invest for growth, Chief Executive Michel Tilmant
said on Wednesday. [nL09898380]

COLONIAL (COL.MC), FCC (FCC.MC)

The Spanish property firm could be forced to make early payment of the debt
of 1.55 billion euros ($2.44 billion) it used to buy FCC stock after a fall in
the builder's shares triggered a repayment clause. [nL09923177]

ALLIANCE & LEICESTER ALLL.L

A&L, despite expectations that the Bank of England's Monetary Policy
Committee will cut base rates, is considering increasing the cost of its
fixed-rate mortgages for the second time in a week, the Independent said.

ANTOFAGASTA (ANTO.L)

Chile's Antofagasta Minerals said on Wednesday it expected to produce
460,000 tonnes of copper a year through 2009, and then output will jump 40
percent after its Esperanza mine comes on line in 2010. [nN09280441]

THOMSON SA TMS.PA

The French media technology group named former Citigroup Inc (C.N) executive
Francois de Carbonnel as its new chairman, with the company under pressure after
a series of poor results. [nL09374047]

ALITALIA AZPIa.MI, AIR FRANCE-KLM (AIRF.PA)

Italy's government meets with Alitalia unions in a last-ditch attempt to
overcome opposition to a takeover offer by Air France-KLM, after talks between
labour leaders and the Franco-Dutch carrier broke down last week.

VESTAS (VWS.CO)

The world's top wind turbine maker expects its global market share to rise
to 25 percent in 2008, the company's chief executive, Ditlev Engel, said on
Thursday. [nSP188259]

SABMILLER (SAB.L)

SABMiller and Molson Coors Brewing Co (TAP.N) named Gavin Hattersley as the
chief financial officer-designate of the U.S. joint venture, effective upon
closing of the deal, the companies said. [nBNG35986]

ROCHE (ROG.VX)

The Swiss drugmaker on Wednesday filed to appeal a preliminary court
injunction barring U.S. sales of its anemia drug Mircera. [nN09436997]
(Reporting by Amanda Cooper)