UK Stocks -- Factors to watch on July 30

LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening
19-30 points higher on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, showing
resilience in the face of falls on Wall Street on the back of China growth
concerns, with Asian markets steadier overnight.

The FTSE 100 .FTSE closed 18.69 points higher on Wednesday at 4,547.53,
resuming its advance after snapping its two-week winning streak on Tuesday.

The index has gained over 31 percent since hitting a six-year low in March,
but is still down 2.6 percent this year.

Investors will turn their attention Thursday to a raft of scheduled UK
corporate news with no domestic economic data due, and only the latest U.S.
weekly jobless numbers of any interest on the macro front.

Factories in a southern Chinese trade hub are cranking up production and
hiring more workers in signs of improved sentiment after a brutal year for the
export sector, officials and executives said on Wednesday. [ID:nHKG269586]

* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia shares steady after bruising [ID:nT109722]

* Nikkei flat, China worry offsets Honda and Nissan [ID:nT359672]

* US STOCKS-Wall St sags; China stirs world economy fear [ID:nN29289249]

* FOREX-Dollar falls after China 'loose policy' comment [ID:nT359613]

* TREASURIES-Edge down in Asia ahead of 7-yr debt sale [ID:nT359622]

* Oil dips towards $63 on US crude build, China fears [ID:nSP524953]

* PRECIOUS-Gold steadies as dollar, stocks eyed, ETF falls [ID:nT364164]

* METALS-Copper up slightly after sell-off, China woes weigh [ID:nMAN524900]

UK stocks to watch on Thursday are:

ASTRAZENECA (AZN.L)

The drugmaker reports second-quarter results.

ROYAL DUTCH SHELL (RDSa.L)

The oil major reports second-quarter results.

ANTOFAGASTA (ANTO.L)

The Chilean copper miner issues second-quarter output figures.

KAZAKHMYS (KAZ.L)

The Kazakh mining group issues second-quarter output figures.

RANDGOLD RESOURCES (RRS.L)

African miner says its offering of 5 million shares has been priced at 3,635
pence per ordinary share and $59.50 per ADS.

REED ELSEVIER (REL.L)

The Anglo-Dutch publisher will unveil plans to raise hundreds of millions of
pounds in a share placing, when it releases first-half results on Thursday,
aimed at paying down some of its $8 billion-plus debt, The Financial Times said.

BRITISH AIRWAYS BAY.L

The airline has taken a lesson on cost-cutting from its low-cost rivals by
ditching meal services on its short-haul flights, The Times said.

BAE SYSTEMS (BAES.L)

The defence giant posts first-half results.

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING (BSY.L)

The pay-TV firm posts full-year results.

SMITH & NEPHEW (SN.L)

The medical devices maker posts first-half results.

ROLLS ROYCE GROUP (RR.L)

The aircraft engine maker reports first-half results.

BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (BATS.L)

The cigarette maker reports first-half results.

BT GROUP (BT.L)

The telecoms group posts first-quarter results.

CENTRICA (CNA.L)

The gas retailer posts first-half results.

PENNON GROUP (PNN.L)

The water firm holds its annual general meeting.

BREWIN DOLPHIN HOLDINGS (BRW.L)

The investment manager and stockbroker issues a trading update.

BRIT INSURANCE HOLDINGS BRE.L

The Lloyd's of London insurer posts second-quarter results.

CHARTER INTERNATIONAL CHTR.L

The engineer posts first-half results.

HALMA (HLMA.L)

The safety products company issues a trading update.

NATIONAL EXPRESS GROUP (NEX.L)

The bus and train operator posts first-half results.

NORTHUMBRIAN WATER GROUP NWG.L

The water firm issues a trading update.

NOVAE HOLDINGS (NVA.L)

The non-life insurer posts first-half results.

RPS GROUP (RPS.L)

The environmental consultancy posts first-half results.

TRAVIS PERKINS (TPK.L)

The builders merchant and DIY group posts first-half results.

VT GROUP VTG.L

The defence and support services company holds its annual general meeting.

ARENA LEISURE ARE.L

The racecourse operator posts first-half results.

DART GROUP (DTG.L)

The aircraft operator posts full-year results.

FUTURE (FUTR.L)

The media group issues a trading update.

LAIRD (LRD.L)

The electronics group posts first-half results.

MEDIWATCH (MDWU.L)

The manufacturer of urology products posts first-half results.

OPTOS (OPTS.L)

The retinal imaging technology company issues a trading update.

TRINITY MIRROR (TNI.L)

The newspaper publisher posts first-half results.

UNIQ UNUNI.L

The convenience food maker posts first-half results.

WARNER ESTATE HOLDINGS (WNER.L)

The property fund and asset manager posts full-year results.

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times [PRESS/FT]

> Other business headlines [PRESS/GB]

(Reporting by Tricia Wright)