UK Stocks -- Factors to watch on August 13

LONDON, August 13 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen
opening up 12 to 19 points, or 0.4 percent on Thursday, according to financial
bookmakers, reflecting gains overnight on Wall Street and in Asia after the
Federal Reserve said it saw signs of a more stable economy.

The UK blue chip index closed 45.42 points or 1 percent higher on Wednesday
at 4,716.76, rallying following a similar-sized fall on Tuesday after positive
noises from the Bank of England in its latest inflation report and as Wall
Street gained on hopes for reassuring comments from the Fed.

After London's close, the Federal Reserve said the economy was levelling
out, and it left interest rates unchanged at the end of its two-day policy
meeting.

The Fed also said it will extend the duration but not the size of a program
to buy long-term government debt, which is part of its effort to revive credit
and stimulate the economy. For details see [ID:nN1272730].

No major UK economic data is due for release on Thursday, so the main macro
focus will be on July U.S. retail numbers, due for release at 1230 GMT, with a
0.7 percent month-on-month rise forecast, after June's 0.6 percent increase.

July U.S. import and export inventories, the latest weekly jobless claims,
and June business inventories will also be released on Thursday.

* US STOCKS-Wall St rises after Fed says economy stabilizing [ID:nN12158890]

* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia stocks, Australia dollar up after Fed [ID:nHKG128384]

* Nikkei gains 0.7 pct on exporters, relief after Fed [ID:nT128274]

* FOREX-Dollar inches lower vs high-yielders after Fed [ID:nT128531]

* TREASURIES-Stabilise in Asia with Fed, await 30-yr auction [ID:nT130773]

* Oil near $71/bbl as recovery optimism offsets demand fears [ID:nSP523146]

* PRECIOUS-Gold rises to trade around $950, ETF stable [ID:nT133355]

* METALS-Shanghai, London copper jump after Fed comments [ID:nSHA129363]

UK stocks to watch on Thursday are:

PRUDENTIAL (PRU.L)

The life insurer reports first-half results.

THOMAS COOK GROUP (TCG.L)

The tour operator issues a trading update.

ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND (RBS.L)

The bank has controversially spent ten million pounds hiring two bankers, a
move which may further inflame the row over financial sector bonuses, The Times
said.

RESOLUTION (RSL.L)

The Government may resist any attempts by Resolution to acquire Lloyds
Banking Group's (LLOY.L) insurance assets due to concerns over its remuneration
structure and its Guernsey domicile, the Daily Telegraph said.

RIO TINTO (RIO.L)

Cloud Peak Energy Inc., the U.S. coal business of miner Rio Tinto submitted
a new application on Wednesday for an initial public offering of up to $500
million. [nN12165613]

ROYAL DUTCH SHELL (RDSa.L)

The oil major is to enter a British government sponsored race to build a
carbon capture and storage (CCS) plant in Britain, the Financial Times reported
on Thursday. [nLD313067]

RETAIL

Overseas tourists helped Harrods achieve record sales in the year to January
31. However, the 2.5 million pound cost of restoring the historic terracotta
facade at the Knightsbridge store dented pre-tax profit, which fell from 58.9
million pounds to 50.3 million, the Financial Times said.

TOMKINS TOMK.L

The engineering group posts first-half results.

PSION (PON.L)

The mobile technology firm posts first-half results.

INVESTEC (INVP.L)

The financial services group holds its annual general meeting.

(Reporting by Jon Hopkins; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter and Hans Peters)