Swiss stocks - Factors to watch on Feb 3

ZURICH Feb 3 (Reuters) - Swiss stocks were indicated to open slightly firmer on Wednesday following a rally in Asia and Wall Street on upbeat U.S. earnings and economic data.

The Swiss blue-chip index SMI .SSMI was indicated to open 6 points higher at 6,556 points, premarket data provided by bank Clariden Leu showed.CLPRE

Shares in Roche were seen down 0.2 percent after its 2009 profit just missed forecasts. CLPRE2

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

ROCHE (ROG.VX)

Roche Holding AG's 2009 profit just missed forecasts with a 10 percent rise but the Swiss drugmaker confirmed its forecast for double-digit profit growth this year.

Roche's core earnings pre share rose to 12.19 Swiss francs ($11.52), narrowly missing the average forecast of 12.33 in a Reuters poll, helped by strong sales of its cancer drugs and flu medicine Tamiflu due to the H1N1 swine flu pandemic.

For related news click on [ROG.VX]

ECONOMY [M-CH]

COMPANY STATEMENTS [CNR-CH]

* Alpiq (ALPH.S) says Italian Antitrust Authority (AGCM) and Customs Authority (Guardia di Finanza) visited its Milan branch [ALPH.S]

* Cytos Biotechnology (CYTN.S) announces full year 2009 financial results and major developments in 2009

EQUITY RESEARCH [CH-RCH]

* JP MORGAN RAISES UBS AG (UBSN.VX) TO OVERWEIGHT FROM NEUTRAL

FOR COMPANIES TRADING EX-DIVIDEND, PLEASE CLICK ON:

.EX.S for all Swiss stocks

.EXSMI.S for blue chips

.EXNSMI.S for other stocks