Swiss stocks - Factors to watch on Jan 21

ZURICH Jan 21 (Reuters) - Swiss stocks were set to open higher on Thursday, bouncing back from the previous day's falls after Wall Street ended off lows and some Asian markets rallied overnight.

The Swiss blue-chip index SMI.SSMI was indicated to open up 44 points at 6,630 points, premarket data provided by bank Clariden Leu showed.CLPRE

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

NOVARTIS (NOVN.VX)

* Novartis AG's offer to buy out minority shareholders in Alcon Inc is "grossly inadequate" and could lead to staff leaving, independent directors of U.S. eyecare group said on Wednesday, setting the stage for a prolonged battle.

* The Swiss drugmaker has edged ahead of German rival Merck KGaA (MRCG.DE) in the race to get the first oral multiple sclerosis treatment to market, having now filed for approval in the United States and Europe.

* A vaccine additive made by Novartis and used in its European influenza shots can boost the body's immune response to a wide range of viruses, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday.

* One child in three caught the pandemic H1N1 flu in the first wave of infection in hard-hit areas of England in 2009 -- up to 10 times more than originally thought, scientists said.

For related news click on [NOVN.VX]

ROCHE

Roche's drug Xeloda enabled elderly patients being treated for colon cancer to live without cancer for longer, the Swiss drugmaker said a study showed.

For related news click on [ROG.VX]

LOGITECH (LOGN.VX)

Logitech International SA, the world's largest computer mouse maker, on Wednesday posted a better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter 2010 profit and said it sees double-digit growth and strong profit growth in the current quarter.

For related news click on [LOGN.VX]

GAM GAMH.VX

GAM Holding unit Swiss and Global Asset Management (S&G) plans to list some of the first physically-backed base metals exchange traded funds by the end of the year, a source close to the asset manager said.

For related news click on [GAMH.VX]

CREDIT SUISSE (CSGN.VX)

Credit Suisse's head of equity syndicate for non-Japan Asia, Simon Aird, will return to London to join the EMEA equity syndicate group as a senior managing director during the second quarter, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters.

For related news click on [CSGN.VX]

ECONOMY [M-CH]

* The SNB publishes its monthly report, including quarterly figures on currency holdings, are due at 0800 GMT.

* January ZEW investor sentiment figures are due at 1000 GMT. Analysts see the index at 54.0 points.

COMPANY STATEMENTS [CNR-CH]

* Sonova Holding AG appoints Alexander Zschokke Group Vice President Channel Solutions from Feb. 1.

* Lonza (LONN.VX) team receives 2010 Sandmeyer Prize for Microreactor Technology

EQUITY RESEARCH [CH-RCH]

* CITIGROUP RAISES SWATCH GROUP AG (UHR.VX) PRICE TARGET TO SFR 325 FROM SFR 260; KEEPS BUY RATING

* CREDIT SUISSE RAISES SWATCH GROUP(UHR.VX) PRICE TARGET TO 350 SFR FROM 275 SFR, RATING OUTPERFORM-TRADERS

* MORGAN STANLEY RAISES NOVARTIS (NOVN.VX) PRICE TARGET TO SFR 61 FROM SFR 49.5; RATING EQUAL-WEIGHT

* MORGAN STANLEY RAISES RICHEMONT (CFR.VX) PRICE TARGET TO SFR 29.1 FROM SFR 26.9; RATING UNDERWEIGHT

* MORGAN STANLEY RAISES ROCHE (ROG.VX) PRICE TARGET TO SFR 227 FROM SFR 200; RATING OVERWEIGHT

FOR COMPANIES TRADING EX-DIVIDEND, PLEASE CLICK ON:

.EX.S for all Swiss stocks

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