UK Stocks -- Factors to watch on Oct 8

LONDON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index
is seen opening 39-45 points, or 0.9 percent, higher on
Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, rallying after
falls on Wednesday as the U.S. corporate earnings season started
with a bang after good numbers from metals firm Alcoa (AA.N).

The UK blue-chip index closed 29.08 points, or 0.6 percent,
lower on Wednesday at 5,108.90, reflecting a mixed showing on
Wall Street as investors waited for the start of the earnings
seasons to give fresh direction.

After-hours in the United States, Alcoa (AA.N) delivered
with a surprise profit on Wednesday thanks to cost cutting and
higher aluminium prices after three consecutive quarterly
losses, and said there are signs that key markets are
stabilising, sending its stock 6 percent higher. [ID:nL892419]

The bullish news from the first member of the Dow Jones
Industrials .DJI to report results for the latest quarter is
likely to boost Wall Street when the markets open on Thursday,
and in London metals and mining stocks should benefit.

Ahead of Wall Street's restart, all eyes will be focused on
the Bank of England's monetary policy decision, although no
change is expected to UK interest rates or the central bank's
current quantitative easing policy. [ID:nL7579384]

The European Central Bank also delivers its interest rate
verdict at 1145 GMT, with no changes expected from the ECB
council either. [ID:nL7609145]

No domestic economic pointers are due for release on
Thursday and investors will only have the latest U.S. jobless
claims and August wholesale inventories to digest this
afternoon.

* US STOCKS-S&P, Nasdaq inches up as earnings season begins
[ID:nN07489112]

* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia shares up, Aussie dlr jumps on data

[ID:nL887706]

* Nikkei rises 0.5 pct in cautious trade, shippers gain

[ID:nT366243]

* FOREX-Dollar cedes ground as Aussie leads the pack

[ID:nT358966]

* TREASURIES-Bonds rally on successful 10-year auction

[ID:nN07568521]

* Oil rebounds above $70 on weak dollar, recovery hopes

[ID:nSYD537234]

* PRECIOUS-Spot gold hits record above $1,050

[ID:nT359504]

* METALS-Copper up as dollar weakens, supply worries

[ID:nSP434934]

UK stocks to watch on Thursday are:

LLOYDS BANKING GROUP (LLOY.L)

The part-nationalised lender is sounding out investors about
a 15 billion pound ($23.81 billion) rights issue to help it
avoid a government scheme to insure it against credit losses,
The Financial Times reported on Thursday. [ID:nL7421716]

HSBC (HSBA.L)

The global bank is a leading contender in the bidding for
both the Asian private banking operations of Dutch lender ING
(ING.AS) and the Asian retail and commercial assets of Royal
Bank of Scotland (RBS.L), The Financial Times said on Thursday.

VEDANTA RESOURCES (VED.L)

The Indian-focused miner issues a first-half production
update.

BHP BILLITON (BLT.L)

The global miner said on Thursday it would know within two
weeks what impact the shutdown of a key shaft at its Olympic Dam
mine in South Australia would have on copper, gold and uranium
production. [nSYU007353]

ROYAL DUTCH SHELL (RDSa.L)

Australia could be the proving ground for a new technology
that promises cheaper and quicker development of offshore gas
reserves, oil major Royal Dutch Shell said on Thursday, with the
firm to use its floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) production
technology to tap two of its gas fields off western Australia.
[nSYD432778]

ROLLS-ROYCE (RR.L)

General Electric Co (GE.N) and Rolls Royce said on Wednesday
they have halted tests on an alternate engine for the F-35
fighter jet after damage was found to some turbine blades, and
no timetable was given for the tests to resume. [ID:nN07494154]

LADBROKES (LAD.L)

The bookmaker will launch a 300 million pound rights issue
on Thursday, The Financial Times reported citing people familiar
with the matter, after betting rival William Hill (WMH.L) tapped
shareholders for 350 million pounds earlier in the year.
[ID:nB698414]

ITV (ITV.L)

The British broadcaster's long search for new leadership was
dealt a blow after former Reed Elsevier (REL.L) chief Sir
Crispin Davis ended talks to become chairman, the Financial
Times reported on Thursday, citing a friend of Davis.
[ID:nB535111]

CARPHONE WAREHOUSE (CPW.L)

The mobile phones retailers issues a second-quarter trading
update.

HALFORDS (HFD.L)

The bikes-to-car-parts retailer issues a trading update.

HAYS HAS.L

The staffing firm issues a third-quarter trading update.

RANK GROUP (RNK.L)

The leisure firm issues a trading update.

VICTREX (VCTX.L)

The specialty chemicals firm issues a trading update.

TED BAKER TBK.L

The fashion group posts first-half results.

C&C GROUP (GCC.I)

The Irish-based drinks firm reports first-half results.

(Reporting by Jon Hopkins; Editing by Rupert Winchester)