UK Stocks -- Factors to watch on June 4

LONDON, June 4 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening
7-16 points higher on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, rallying
slightly after sharp falls over the past two sessions with all eyes on any news
from the latest meetings of the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.

The UK blue chip index closed 93.60 points, or 2.1 percent lower, on
Wednesday at 4,383.42, having slid back since hitting highs not seen since early
January on Monday.

Investor attention will be focused on news from the two-day Bank of England
Monetary Policy Committee meeting, due at 1130 GMT. The Bank is expected to keep
interest rates at a record low 0.5 percent and refrain from expanding its
quantitative easing plan, as it tries to gauge how Britain's recession-hit
economy is faring. [ID:nL393918]

Similarly, the European Central Bank is expected to keep its interest rates
pegged at 1 percent, with markets keen to see the details of its covered bond
purchase plans as well. [ID:nL3669427].

Further indications of life in the UK economy could come from the Halifax
May UK house price index, due to be released at 0800 GMT.

Meanwhile after Thursday's disappointing U.S. jobs survey from ADP, the
latest weekly jobless claims numbers will be closely watched in the context of
Friday's key non-farm payrolls report.

* Wall Street dives on falling oil, recovery worry [ID:nL471300]

* Nikkei drops 0.3 pct as shippers slip, T&D surges [ID:nT319865]

* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia stocks fall, dollar steady after data [ID:nSP108023]

* FOREX-Dollar holds ground after jump, ECB and BOE in focus [ID:nT318967]

* TREASURIES-Bonds gain as weaker stocks, data boost bids [ID:nL481990]

* Oil rises above $66/bbl on recovery hopes [ID:nT63932]

* Gold rises as dollar steadies, ETF eases from record [ID:nT318488]

* METALS-LME copper extends losses, Shanghai falls 3.4 pct [ID:nSP352909]

UK stocks to watch on Thursday are:

RIO TINTO (RIO.L)

Chinese state-owned metals firm Chinalco may revise its planned $19.5
billion investment in miner Rio Tinto before a June 14 deadline to avoid further
delays in Australian government approval, two sources close to the deal said on
Thursday. [ID:nSYD357712}

BARCLAYS (BARC.L)

The bank plans to curtail its final salary pension scheme for British staff
in favour of a cheaper arrangement, saying the current plan was "untenable".
[nL31032549]

ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND (RBS.L)

Sir William Wells, the non-executive chairman of plastic surgery group
Covenant Healthcare, has accused its owner Royal Bank of Scotland of
jeopardising the future of the company by trying to force through a quick sale,
the Daily Telegraph said.

TESCO (TSCO.L)

Britain's biggest retailer has stepped up its efforts to woo customers away
from Carphone Warehouse (CPW.L) with the offer of free laptops with some of its
mobile broadband packages, the Independent said.

DEBENHAMS (DEB.L)

The department stores group Debenhams plans to raise over 300 million pounds
($499 million) in a placing and open offer of new shares priced above 75 pence,
two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. [nL3104680]

RETAIL

Fashion chain New Look will not return to the stock market in the immediate
future, but has not ruled out a public listing in 2010, the Financial Times
said.

INSURERS

Mutual life assurer Royal London is confident that it will not have to take
a writedown on the 300 million pounds it is owed by Hugh Osmond's Pearl Group as
Pearl undergoes a debt restructuring that is expected to see banks take a 400
million pound hit on three billion pounds of loans, the Financial Times said.

WM MORRISON SUPERMARKETS (MRW.L)

The food retailer issues a trading update.

JOHNSTON MATTHEY (JMAT.L)

The precious metals firm posts fourth-quarter results.

SIGNET JEWELLERS (SIG.L)

The Anglo-U.S. jewellers reports first-quarter results.

WH SMITH (SMWH.L)

The books to DVDs retailer issues a trading update.

EASYJET (EZJ.L)

The discount airline delivers traffic numbers.

HELICAL BAR (HLCL.L)

The property developer reports full-year results.

QUINTAIN ESTATES & DEVELOPMENT (QED.L)

The property developer reports full-year results.

WINCANTON (WIN.L)

The logistic group posts full-year results.

SYNERGY HEALTHCARE (SYR.L)

The healthcare support services group reports full-year results.

ASTERAND (ATD.L)

The biotech firm holds its annual general meeting.

OXFORD BIOMEDICA (OXB.L)

The biotech firm hosts its annual general meeting.

TODAY'S UK PAPERS

> Financial Times [PRESS/FT]

> Other business headlines [PRESS/GB]

(Reporting by Jon Hopkins; editing by Atul Prakash)