Swiss stocks - Factors to watch on July 27

ZURICH, July 27 (Reuters) - Swiss shares were set to open slightly lower on Wednesday, in line with other European exchanges, as markets continued to fret about the possibility of a U.S. debt default and downgrade.

The blue-chip SMI .SSMI was expected to open 10 points lower at 5,979 points, pre-market data provided by bank Clariden Leu showed.

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

LONZA (LONN.VX)

Drugs industry supplier Lonza said it was on track to deliver continued underlying revenue and operating profit growth as it seeks to manage the impact of the strong Swiss franc.

For more click on: [LONN.VX]

Clariant (CLN.VX)

Clariant expects commodity and raw material prices to keep rising in the second-half of the year, the specialty chemicals maker said after the strong Swiss franc ate into its second quarter earnings.

For more click on: [CLN.VX]

EFG INTERNATIONAL (EFGN.S)

Switzerland-based private bank EFG International said core net profit fell 18 to 72.6 million Swiss francs ($90.4 million) as the strong Swiss franc depressed revenues generated by assets held in euros and dollars.

For more click on: [EFGN.S]

COMPANY STATEMENTS [CPR-CH]

* Addex Pharmaceuticals (ADXN.S) announced H1 results today financial results for the first half of 2011 and reviewed the status of its pipeline [ADXN.S]

* Rieter (RIEN.S) posts H1 results [RIEN.S]

* LLB Group now represented in Geneva

* Santhera (SANN.S): publication in BRAIN highlights medical potential of Santhera's Catena in Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. (SANN.S)

* NIBE (NIBEb.ST) announced it completes the offer to the shareholders of Schulthess Group SGRN.S and publishes a Swedish prospectus regarding admission to trade of newly issued B shares at NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. [SGRN.S]

ECONOMY [M-CH]

* Swiss KOF leading indicator for July due at 1130 local time (0930 GMT)

FOR COMPANIES TRADING EX-DIVIDEND, PLEASE CLICK ON:

.EX.S for all Swiss stocks

.EXSMI.S for blue chips

.EXNSMI.S for other stocks