UK Stocks -- Factors to watch on March 25

LONDON, March 25 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening as much as 1.7 percent higher on Tuesday, bookmakers said, tracking Asian and U.S. stock rallies after JPMorgan raised its bid for Bear Stearns BSC.N.

The UK benchmark index closed the previous session down 0.9 percent.

Asian and U.S. equities were also supported as an unexpected rise in U.S. home sales data boosted expectations for a recovery in the U.S. credit and housing markets.

On the economic agenda, investors will eye U.S. consumer confidence data at 1400 GMT.

* Asia shares rise, bonds fall on credit optimism [nSP72948] * Dollar snaps winning streak amid credit jitters [nT311420] * TREASURIES-Rise as mortgage market breathes easier [nT216757] * Oil falls toward $100 on dollar, demand concerns [nSYD67521] * Gold up on bargain hunting but dollar, oil weigh [nSP68367] * Japan's Nikkei up 2.1 pct, exporters gain [nTKV003072] * Wall St soars on revised Bear offer, home sales [nN24352368]

UK stocks to watch on Tuesday are:

VODAFONE (VOD.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

The global mobile phone giant is in preliminary talks seeking a stake in South African-based cellphone company MTN's MTNJ.L international operations, a newspaper reported on Sunday. [ID:nL2337300]

Also, Vodafone is preparing for an IPO of shares in its Vodafone Qatar subsidiary, with a sale of 20 percent of the shares expected before the end of 2008, the Financial Times reported.