Swiss stocks - Factors to watch on Nov 2

ZURICH Nov 2 (Reuters) - Swiss stocks are seen ticking down on Monday, in line with markets across Europe and following a selloff on Wall Street at the end of last week and a three-week closing low in Tokyo overnight.

Financials could come under pressure after CIT Group Inc (CIT.N), a U.S. lender to hundreds of thousands of small and medium-sized businesses, filed for bankruptcy on Sunday.

The Swiss blue-chip index SMI .SSMI was indicated to open 9 points lower at 6,277 points, premarket data provided by bank Clariden Leu showed. CLPRE.

The following are some of the main factors expected to affect Swiss stocks on Monday:

NESTLE (NESN.VX)

Deep-pocketed Nestle (NESN.VX), the world's biggest food group, should have reacted faster to competitors' price cuts to avoid slowing sales, Chief Executive Paul Bulcke said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Monday.

For related news click on [NESN.VX]

UBS (UBSN.VX)

The bank does not plan to sell its fund management arm, UBS Global Asset Management, the unit's chairman was reported as saying on Monday by the Financial Times.

For related news click on [UBSN.VX]]

NOVARTIS (NOVN.VX)

French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis SA (SASY.PA) asked a U.S. federal court to block Sandoz, the generic business of Novartis, from selling a generic version of its cancer drug in the United States, claiming it infringes a patent, court documents showed.

For related news click on [ID:nN30432722]

IMPLENIA<IMPN.S]

The construction and building services group said on Monday that Austrian builder Strabag (STRV.VI) had expressed its interest in acquiring a strategic stake in the company.

For related news click on [IMPN.S]

ECONOMY [M-CH]

* Switzerland, angered by Italian raids on Swiss bank branches, has hit back by halting talks on a new double taxation agreement, Swiss Finance Minster Hans-Rudolf Merz said in a newspaper interview published on Sunday. [ID:nL1538978]

* SNB board member Thomas Jordan is due to hold a speech at around 1630 GMT in Berne.

* Swiss Purchasing Managers' Index for October is due at 0830 GMT. The index is expected to rise to 55 from 54.3 points.ECONCH

COMPANY STATEMENTS [CNR-CH]

* Dr Joerg Henz appointed interim CEO of Oerlikon Solar OERL.VX[OERL.VX]

* Kuehne + Nagel (KNIN.VX) selected by Valeo Service as partner [KNIN.VX]

* Kudelski KUD.VX issues letter to OpenTV shareholders [KUD.VX]

* Cham Paper Group Holding AG (CPGN.S) says principal shareholder increases its equity stake to 34.2 percent and announces mandatory tender offer for group [CPGN.S]

EQUITY RESEARCH [CH-RCH]

* CITIGROUP CUTS GAM HOLDING LTD GAMH.VX TO HOLD FROM BUY

* CITIGROUP RAISES CREDIT SUISSE (CSGN.VX) TO BUY FROM HOLD, RAISES PRICE TARGET TO SFR 65 FROM SFR 60

* CITIGROUP RAISES UBS AG (UBSN.VX) PRICE TARGET TO SFR 19.50 FROM SFR 18.50; RATING BUY

* MORGAN STANLEY CUTS PSP SWISS PROPERTY AG (PSPN.S) TO UNDERWEIGHT FROM EQUAL-WEIGHT

* UBS STARTS GAM HOLDING LTD GAMH.VX WITH BUY RATING AND SFR 18 PRICE TARGET

* UBS RAISES ACTELION LTD (ATLN.VX) TO NEUTRAL FROM SELL ON VALUATION, AHEAD OF ALMOREXANT DATA

* UBS RAISES SIKA AG (SIK.S) PRICE TARGET TO SFR 1700 FROM SFR 1500; RATING BUY

* JP MORGAN RAISES BALOISE-HOLDING AG (BALN.VX) PRICE TARGET TO SFR 104 FROM SFR 97; RATING NEUTRAL

* BOA-MERRILL LYNCH CUTS JULIUS BAER BAER1.VX PRICE TARGET TO 46 SFR FROM 53 SFR; RATING NEUTRAL-TRADERS

* CREDIT SUISSE RAISES TECAN (TECN.S) PRICE TARGET TO SFR 80 FROM SFR 65; RATING OUTPERFORM

FOR COMPANIES TRADING EX-DIVIDEND, PLEASE CLICK ON:

.EX.S for all Swiss stocks

.EXSMI.S for blue chips

.EXNSMI.S for other stocks