UK Stocks -- Factors to watch on Aug 27

LONDON, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index
is seen opening flat on Wednesday, according to financial
bookmakers, having closed down 34.9 points, or 0.6 percent, at
5,470.7 in the previous session.

U.S. durable goods for July, due at 1230 GMT, will provide
investors a further gauge on the health of the world's largest
economy.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said 117 U.S.
banks were on its troubled banks list at the end of the second
quarter, up from 90 after the first three months of the year.

Minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee's August
meeting released on Tuesday showed Federal Reserve policymakers
saw a weakening economic outlook and financial market stress
outweighing persistent concerns about inflation.

In the UK, Liberty International LII.L, Capita Group
(CPI.L), InterContinental Hotels (IHG.L) and Admiral Group
(ADML.L) will trade ex-dividend this session and together are
expected to take 0.5 point off the index.

* Wall St rises on energy shrs, offsets bank fears [nN26380969]
* Nikkei dips 0.1 pct, exporters and property weigh [nT328252]
* Asia stocks mixed but Greater China climbs [nSP254759]
* Dollar dips vs euro, pulls away from 6-month peak [nT44102]
* Oil rises for 3rd day near $117 on supply worries [nT20357]
* Gold rises as oil firms, platinum up 1 pct [nSP126725]

UK stocks to watch on Wednesday are:

ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND (RBS.L)

Royal Bank of Scotland will announce on Wednesday the
appointment of a trio of non-executive directors in an effort to
demonstrate that Britain's second-largest bank by market value
is addressing shareholder concerns in the wake of its 12 billion
pounds rights issue, the Daily Telegraph said.

BT GROUP (BT.L)

BT Group is considering the sale of its 31 percent stake in
India's software services company Tech Mahindra (TEML.BO), the
Financial Times reported, after the UK telecoms company decided
the holding does not fit its long-term strategy. [ID:nHKG39828]

HSBC (HSBA.L)

HSBC said on Tuesday it sees profit growth in Latin America
through 2012 and downplayed any new acquisitions in the region.

The bank dismissed rumours that the group might buy Banorte
(GFNORTEO.MX), Mexico's fifth-largest financial group. Banorte
is often seen as a likely takeover target for an international
bank looking to move into or expand in Mexico. [ID:nN26359951]

3I GROUP (III.L)

The private equity firm may invest $183 million to 229
million in a south Indian port operator for a stake of up 26
percent, India's Mint newspaper said, citing an official at the
Indian firm. [ID:nBOM280660]

RIO TINTO (RIO.L)

Rio Tinto is keen to use its growing relationship with
shareholder Chinalco, the Chinese state-owned aluminium
producer, to pursue joint ventures and even increase its
presence in China, the Financial Times said.

BHP BILLITON (BLT.L)

BHP Billiton was gradually restarting its giant Yandi iron
ore mine in Australia on Wednesday, a day after operations were
halted following the death of a worker at the site, the company
said. [ID:nSYU005023]

TAYLOR NELSON SOFRES TNS.L

Germany's GfK Holdings AG (GFKG.DE) has decided not to bid
for the British market research group, a German magazine
reported on Tuesday without citing sources. [ID:nLQ318791]

Meanwhile, Taylor Nelson is due to issue its first-half
results.

WPP (WPP.L)

Morgan Stanley cut its price target on WPP to 550 pence from
650 pence and rated it "equal weight".

ALLIANCE & LEICESTER ALLL.L

The British mortgage bank said it is cutting the rates on
some of its home loans. [ID:nLQ277541]

TULLOW OIL (TLW.L)

The oil explorer is due to issue its first-half results.

PETROFAC (PFC.L)

The oil and gas services firm is due to issue its first-half
results.

ANTOFAGASTA (ANTO.L)

The miner is due to issue its first-half results.

TAYLOR WIMPEY (TW.L)

The housebuilder is due to issue its first-half results.

BRIT INSURANCE BRE.L

The insurer is due to issue its first-half results.

G4S (GFS.L)

The Anglo-Danish security services firm is due to issue its
first-half results.

SEGRO (SGRO.L)

The property firm is due to issue its first half-results.

JOHNSTONE PRESS (JPR.L)

The company is due to issue its first half-results.

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times [PRESS/FT]

> Other business headlines [PRESS/GB]

(Reporting by Dominic Lau)