Swiss stocks - Factors to watch on Jan 11

ZURICH Jan 11 (Reuters) - Swiss shares were set to open firmer on Monday.

The Swiss blue-chip index SMI.SSMI was indicated to open 43 points higher at 6,661 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:

UBS (UBSN.VX) (UBS)N>

* Swiss bank UBS UBS.VX will post a fourth-quarter profit, the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper reported on Sunday, as the bank tries to rebuild after suffering large writedowns due to the financial crisis and a U.S. tax row.

SWISS LIFE (SLHN.VX)

* French website Wansquare reported that German insurer Allianz (ALVG.DE) was preparing an offer for Swiss Life, citing Swiss banking sources. [ID:nLDE6090H9]

ROCHE (ROG.VX)

* The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Roche Holding AG's (ROG.VX) Actemra to treat rheumatoid arthritis, the company said on Friday. [ID:nN08265245] * Galapagos (GLPG.BR) and Roche initiate strategic alliance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with a research access payment of 6 million euros ($8.59 million) for Galapagos.

CREDIT SUISSE (CSGN.VX)

* Credit Suisse said Pamela Thomas-Graham has been appointed Chief Talent, Branding and Communication Officer. She will be a member of the Executive Board.

* Credit Suisse has hired a new real estate investment trust research team as part of an expansion of its equities business in Australia.

NOBEL BIOCARE (NOBN.VX)

* Nobel Biocare (NOBN.VX) establishes preferred partner programme with Ivoclar Vivadent. [ID:nWEB4515]

NOVARTIS (NOVN.VX)

* Novartis launches schizophrenia treatment Fanapt in the United States.

ECONOMY [M-CH]

* The Swiss National Bank will continue to fight any excessive appreciation of the Swiss franc against the euro but does not have an exchange rate target, chairman Philipp Hildebrand said in a statement on Monday.

* Retail sales data for November is due at 0815 GMT ECONCH

* Bankers should be aware of the fragility of the economic recovery when taking on new risks, the head of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in Basel, Switzerland warned on Saturday. [ID:nLDE6080CB]

COMPANY STATEMENTS [CNR-CH]

* Sika (SIK.S) said 2009 net sales were some 4.2 billion Swiss francs. * Newron Pharmaceuticals (NWRN.S) reports a positive outcome from its Pre-IND and CTA meetings with the U.S. FDA and the UK MHRA for its novel New Chemical Entity, NW-3509.

EQUITY RESEARCH [CH-RCH]

* Credit Suisse raises Komax (KOMN.S) price target to 73 Swiss francs from 60 francs, rating "neutral"

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