Swiss stocks - Factors to watch on Feb 18

ZURICH Feb 18 (Reuters) - Swiss shares were set to open higher on Thursday, in line with other European markets and with the focus on a slew of blue chip companies, including reinsurer Swiss Re and engineering group ABB, reporting results.

The blue chip SMI index .SSMI was expected to rise 20 points at the open to 6,588 points, according to pre-market data from bank Clariden Leu CLPRE. The following are some of the main factors expected to affect Swiss stocks on Thursday:

ABB (ABBN.VX)

Swiss engineering group ABB raised its cost-cutting goal to $3 billion as it cautioned the outlook for the group and the economy as a whole remained uncertain.

For related news click on [ABBN.VX]

SWISS RE RUKN.VX

The world's second-largest reinsurer, Swiss Re, strengthened its capital position and swung to a 2009 net profit but just missed expectations as it took heavy losses on securitised products and corporate bond hedges.

For related news click on [RUKN.VX]

ACTELION (ATLN.VX)

Europe's biggest biotech company Actelion sees rapid cash earnings growth of up to 20 percent this year, fuelled by continuing strong sales of heart and lung drug Tracleer.

For related news click on [ATLN.VX]

SWISSCOM (SCMN.VX)

Swisscom said tougher competition will keep its sales and profit under pressure in 2010 after it posted a rise in 2009 profits when lower depreciation charges helped to offset weaker domestic demand.

For related news click on [SCMN.VX]

SONOVA (SOON.VX)

Hearing aid maker Sonova raised its full-year outlook as it sold more products than anticipated and said it expects to win market share in an improved trading environment.

For related news click on [SOON.VX]

ROCHE(ROG.VX)/NOVARTIS(NOVN.VX)

U.S. health regulators are reviewing potential risks of medicines from Roche, Novartis and other companies.

The Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday it was probing reports of hearing loss with Novartis cancer drug Gleevec and hypothermia with Roche's flu drug Tamiflu.

For related news click on [ROG.VX] or [NOVN.VX]

COMPANY STATEMENTS [CNR-CH]

* RiskMetrics Group Questions Adequacy and Legality of Novartis` (NOVN.VX) Merger Proposal to Alcon`s ACL.N Minority Shareholders [ACL.N>

* Roche (ROG.VX) Collaborates with Merck on Developmental Test for Cancer-Related Gene Mutation [ROG.VX]

* Temenos (TEMN.S) releases Full Year 2009 results - showing 26 percent growth in profits, doubling of cashflow - and gives outlook for 2010 incorporating Viveo acquisition [TEMN.S]

ECONOMY [M-CH]

* Swiss trade data for January are due at 0715 GMT.

* ZEW investor sentiment data for February are due at 1000 GMT.

EQUITY RESEARCH [CH-RCH]

FOR COMPANIES TRADING EX-DIVIDEND, PLEASE CLICK ON:

.EX.S for all Swiss stocks

.EXSMI.S for blue chips

.EXNSMI.S for other stocks