UK Stocks -- Factors to watch on Nov 4

LONDON Nov 4 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index .FTSE was seen opening down 5 to 16 points on Tuesday according to financial bookmakers, or as much as 0.4 percent, following lacklustre trade in the United States where investors traded cautiously in the last session before the U.S. presidential election.

The index is seen snapping a five-day winning streak, having ended the previous session up 1.5 percent, or 65.94 points, at 4443.28.

In the United States Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain face the verdict of U.S. voters on Tuesday after a long and bitter struggle for the White House, with Obama holding a decisive edge in national opinion polls.

On the economic front, investors will eye Eurozone PPI data, at 1000 GMT, while across the Atlantic the market will keep an eye on U.S. ICSC chain stores data, U.S. redbook data, as well as data on U.S. durable goods, new orders and factory orders.

Investors in Europe looked forward to likely interest-rate cuts from the Bank of England and the European Central Bank on Thursday, as central banks worldwide took the axe to borrowing costs to ease the pain of a looming global recession.

Australia slashed interest rates on Tuesday by a larger-than-expected 75 basis points, following rate-cuts in the United States, Japan and China last week.

* Nikkei up 6.3 pct, Panasonic jumps but Nissan dives [ID:nT38774] * Wall St ends barely changed day before U.S. election [ID:nN03358203] * Oil down 1 pct ahead of U.S. vote, recession feared [ID:nSP182808] * Dollar little changed, presidential election eyed [ID:nT191343] * TREASURIES-Steady ahead of US election, quarterly refunding [ID:nT280086] * Gold rises 1 pct on steadier dollar, firm equities [ID:nSP419976] * GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks dip, dlr flat; may see US election boost [ID:nSP159975]

UK stocks to watch on Tuesday are:

RBS (RBS.L), HBOS HBOS.L, LLOYDS (LLOY.L), SAINSBURY (SBRY.L)

Britain said the chairman of supermarket chain J Sainsbury, Philip Hampton, will oversee a new government holding company to own stakes in major high street banks, details of which were unveiled on Monday.

The British government is likely to become the largest shareholder in HBOS, RBS and Lloyds unless private investors show unexpected demand in upcoming share issues by the banks. John Kingman, will be chief executive of the new body, UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI).

Northern Rock, which was already nationalised, and part of Bradford & Bingley BB.L will also be owmed by UKFI. [ID:nL3163219]

HBOS HBOS.L

Jim Spowart, the Scottish financier who claims to be working on a counter bid for HBOS, has come under pressure from the Takeover Panel, the Daily Telegraph said.

RIO TINTO (RIO.L)

The global miner sees no reason to cut its exploration portfolio or budget in Africa on the back of the global economic crisis that has hit metals prices, an official said on Monday. [ID:nL4265795]

HOME RETAIL GROUP (HOME.L)

Homebase is to announce significant job losses on Tuesday as its owner Home Retail reacts to a sharp decline in sales, the Financial Times said.

ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS (ABF.L)

The group is due to release preliminary earnings results.

MARKS & SPENCER (MKS.L)

The group is due to release interim earnings results.

PUNCH TAVERNS (PUB.L)

The company is due to release preliminary earnings results.

BG Group (BG.L)

The group is due to release third-quarter earnings results.

CRODA INTERNATIONAL (CRDA.L)

The company is due to release its third-quarter trading update.

(Reporting by Rebekah Curtis)