Europe Factors-Shares set to rise ahead of BoE, ECB

(Adds futures, company news; updates snapshot)

PARIS, Aug 6 (Reuters) - European equities were set to rise
on Thursday, reversing a two-session dip, as investors awaited
rate decisions by the Bank of England and the European Central
Bank, as well as the BoE's decision on quantitative easing.

Investors were also digesting a raft of quarterly results
from companies including Unilever (UNc.AS), Commerzbank
(CBKG.DE) and Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE). Unilever beat
consensus forecasts with a 4.1 percent rise in second-quarter
underlying sales and said it was encouraged by a 2 percent
volume rise with all regions seeing growth.

By 0623 GMT, futures for the DJ Euro Stoxx STXEc1, for
Germany's DAX FDXc1 and for France's CAC FCEc1 were up
between 0.6 percent and 0.7 percent. Earlier, financial
spreadbetters had expected Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE to open 18
to 23 points higher, or as much as 0.5 percent.

At 1100 GMT, The Bank of England will announce whether it
will expand its quantitative easing programme, as well as its
decision on interest rates, likely to stay on hold.
[ID:nL5333957]

The European Central Bank, whose decision is due at 1145
GMT, is expected to keep interest rates on hold at a record low
as it waits to see the impact of efforts so far to revive the
economy and credit flows. [ID:nL5424877]

"With no movement expected in either rates, it will be any
comments on quantitative easing that will be the main focus,"
Ian Griffiths, dealer at CMC Markets, wrote in a note.

Tech shares will be in focus after Cisco Systems Inc
(CSCO.O) CEO said business conditions were improving for the
world's largest network equipment manufacturer but it was too
soon to call a recovery. [ID:nN03535216]

The FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares
has surged 15 percent since July 10, propelled by
better-than-feared company results. The index, which has gained
45 percent since reaching a floor in early March, is up 12.3
percent so far in 2009.

----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 0623
GMT----------------------

LAST PCT CHG

NET CHG

S&P 500 .SPX 1,002.72 -0.29 %

-2.93

NIKKEI .N225 10,388.09 1.32 %

135.56

MSCI ASIA EX-JP .MIASJ0000PUS 432.92 0.13 %

0.57

EUR/USD EUR= 1.4417 0.04 %

0.0004

USD/JPY JPY= 95.19 0.31 %

0.2900

10-YR US TSY YLD US10YT=RR 3.752 --

-0.01

10-YR BUND YLD EU10YT=RR 3.401 --

0.05

SPOT GOLD XAU= $963.50 0.16 %

$1.55

US CRUDE CLc1 $71.78 -0.26 %

-0.19

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

* Wall St hurt by data, but financials curb losses

[ID:nL6693250]

* Shanghai stocks dip, Aussie dlr cuts gains

[ID:nSP378190]

* Nikkei led higher by autos, but U.S. data weighs

[ID:nT51863]

* Dollar near 9-mth low vs pound, Aussie trims gains

[ID:nT57736]

* Oil down on weaker equities, eases towards $71

[ID:nSP373212]

* TREASURIES-Steady in Asia ahead of key U.S. jobs data
[ID:nT58849]

* Copper falls 3 pct as data spurs correction

[ID:nMAN371117]

* Gold steady as dlr stays weak vs euro, ETF flat

[ID:nT61239]

COMPANY NEWS:

UNILEVER (ULVR.L)(UNc.AS)

Consumer goods giant Unilever beat consensus forecasts with
a 4.1 percent rise in second-quarter underlying sales on
Thursday and said it was encouraged by a 2 percent volume rise
with all regions seeing growth. [ID:nL4534023]

COMMERZBANK (CBKG.DE)

Commerzbank's second-quarter earnings on Thursday beat
analyst expectations thanks to lower writedowns for problem
assets and a profitable quarter for its retail banking and
mid-size company lending unit. For details, see: [ID:nL6511927]

DEUTSCHE TELEKOM (DTEGn.DE)

Deutsche Telekom reported second-quarter core profit and
sales in line with expectations on Thursday and reiterated its
outlook for the full year. For details, see:
[DTEGn.DE-LEN-RTRS]

ZURICH FINANCIAL SERVICES (ZURN.VX)

The Swiss insurer said its capital position was strong and
that it remained confident it was well positioned in the crisis
as it beat second-quarter earnings expectations. For related
news, click on [ZURN.VX-LEN-RTRS]

NOVO NORDISK (NOVOb.CO)

The Danish drug maker reported a bigger-than-expected 44
percent rise in operating profits for the second quarter and
raised its guidance for full-year profits. [ID:nDKT004545]

NOVARTIS (NOVN.VX)

Swiss drugmaker Novartis said the EU had approved Afinitor
for the treatment of patients with advanced kidney cancer. The
drug will be used on patients whose disease progressed on or
after treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF)-targeted therapy, which cuts off blood supply to cancers.
For details, see:[ID:nL6675905]

KBC (KBC.BR)

The Belgian banking and insurance group returned to net
profit in the second quarter after three consecutive losses,
with improved interest and premium income and cost cutting. For
details, see: [ID:nL5441874]

SYNGENTA (SYNN.VX)

Syngenta announced the signing of an agreement to acquire
from Monsanto its global hybrid sunflower seeds activities for a
consideration of $160 million, on a cash and debt-free basis.
For related news, click on [SYNN.VX]

PUBLICIS (PUBP.PA)

French advertising company is the front-runner to buy
Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) digital ad agency Razorfish, the Wall
Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources it
said were familiar with the matter. Publicis has bid $500
million to $600 million for Razorfish, the Journal reported.
Publicis and Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests
for comment. [ID:nN05283138]

ENI (ENI.MI)

Turkey has agreed "in principle" to allow the South Stream
pipeline to pass through its territorial waters and an agreement
has been reached with Russia to start construction work. Eni,
which plans to build the pipeline with Russia's Gazprom, should
be represented at meetings in Ankara on Thursday. Italian Prime
Minister Silvio Berlusconi will also attend. [ID:nL5498335]

(Reporting by Blaise Robinson; editing by Simon Jessop)