UK Stocks -- Factors to watch on July 2

LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening
down 24 to 28 points, or as much as 0.7 percent on Thursday, according to
financial bookmakers, with all eyes on the June U.S. jobs report.

The UK blue chip index closed 91.50 points higher on Wednesday at 4,340.71
on the first day of the new quarter lifted by strength in commodity issues.

However, with crude prices CLc1 falling back below $70 a barrel,
heavyweight oils are expected to retreat early on Thursday pulling the market
lower.

No domestic data is due for release on Thursday, so all the attention will
be on the U.S. non-farm payrolls, bought forward a day from Friday this month
due to the Independence Day holiday, which are epected to come in at -355,000 in
June, after May's less then expected -345,000 decline.

U.S. unemployment is expeceted to rise to 9.6 percent last month, up from
9.4 percent in June.

Investors will also have the latest weekly U.S. jobless claims, May factory
goods, and revised durable orders numbers to digest as well on Thursday.

And news out of the latest monthly European Central Bank Committe meeting
will also be eyed, though no change is expected to monetary policy with euro
zone interest rates already at a record low.

* Wall St gains on recovery hopes, but job data looms [ID:nN01527297]

* Nikkei flat ahead of U.S. jobs data but Hitachi up [ID:nT211248]

* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia stocks, dollar sluggish ahead of jobs [ID:nL2178327]

* Dollar inches up, China watched, payrolls awaited [ID:nT369512]

* TREASURIES-Shorter-dated Treasuries up on Fed rate comment [ID:nN01520585]

* Oil steady below $70 after fall on gasoline build [ID:nSYD508473]

* Gold flat near $940, eyes U.S. jobs data [ID:nT210937]

* METALS-Shanghai copper up 0.2 percent, LME drifts [ID:nSP500624]

UK stocks to watch on Thursday are:

RIO TINTO (RIO.L)

Rio Tinto's $15.2 billion rights offer, the fifth-biggest on record,
generated strong demand from UK investors, putting the world's top iron ore
miner back into growth mode after a debt-funded purchase of Alcan had brought it
to its knees. [ID:nSYD476934]

CARPHONE WAREHOUSE (CPW.L)

The telecoms retail group will offer contracts from Vodafone (VOD.L) from
next week in its 820 stores, ending a three-year dispute, papers reported on
Thursday. [ID:nL257139]

BRITISH AIRWAYS BAY.L

British Airways has put in a request for mediation in its dispute with
unions over cost-cutting proposals, the Unite union said on Wednesday.
[ID:nL212640]

Also, peer Virgin Atlantic [VA.UL] said on Wednesday it will reduce
capacity over the winter by 7 percent to battle a "bleak" outlook for the
airline industry, meaning it will need to reduce staff by up to about 600
people. [ID: nL1272355]

CABLE & WIRELESS CW.L

Management at the telecommunications operator is likely to receive sharp
criticism at its annual general meeting from one of the main investors, the
Association of British Insurers, The Times said.

CATTLES CTT.L

The sub-prime lender sacked six executives including two board members after
a probe into accounting irregularities discovered a 700 million pound hole in
the company's balance sheet, the Guardian said.

MAX PROPERTY (MAXP.L)

Max Property Group, set up to invest in bargain UK property assets, is in
talks to make its first acquisition since floating in May, the Financial Times
reported on Thursday.

GREENE KING (GNK.L)

The brewer and pubs operator posts full-year results.

GAME GROUP GMG.L

The computer games retailer holds its annual general meeting.

PHOTO-ME INTERNATIONAL (PHTM.L)

The photo booths firm reports full-year results.

NCC GROUP (NCCG.L)

The computer security firm reports full-year results.

KALHARI MINERALS KAH.L

The uranium explorer holds its annual general meeting.

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times [PRESS/FT]

> Other business headlines [PRESS/GB]

(Reporting by Jon Hopkins)