Swiss stocks - Factors to watch on July 14

ZURICH, July 14 (Reuters) - Swiss stocks are set to open sharply lower on Thursday, in line with European markets, as investors worried about ratings agency Moody's warning the United States could lose its top credit rating.

The Swiss blue-chip index SMI .SSMI was indicated to fall 51 points to 5,974 points, premarket data provided by bank Clariden Leu showed.CLPRE

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

TRANSOCEAN (RIGN.VX) (RIG.N)

Transocean Ltd, the world's largest rig contractor, said on Wednesday that it had put a few previously idle rigs back to work and another was headed from India to the Gulf of Mexico for more than year.

For related news click on [RIGN.VX]

NESTLE (NESN.VX)

Nestle on Wednesday ramped up its distribution of disease-resistant cocoa trees to farmers in Ivory Coast, part of a plan to boost productivity per hectare and improve the notoriously poor quality of the top grower's cocoa beans.

For related news click on [NESN.VX]

ECONOMY [M-CH]

* The strong rise of the Swiss franc versus the euro is a source of concern to the Swiss National Bank, which has the means to act if deflationary risks were to reemerge, Vice-Chairman Thomas Jordan said. [RTRS-CH-SNB]

COMPANY STATEMENTS [CNR-CH]

* Bellevue Group (BBN.S) announces one-time impairment charges for the first half of 2011. [BBN.S]

* Partners Group (PGHN.S) had inflows of 2.1 billion euros in the first half of the year with estimated assets and reconfirms that client demand should result in inflows of 4-5 billion euros for the year.

* The board of Precious Woods (PRWN.S) has elected Gerhard Willi to Chief Financial Officer.

FOR COMPANIES TRADING EX-DIVIDEND, PLEASE CLICK ON:

.EX.S for all Swiss stocks

.EXSMI.S for blue chips

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