German stocks - Factors to watch on Nov 20

FRANKFURT, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The DAX top-30 index .GDAXI looked set to open 3.5 percent lower on Thursday, according to pre-market data from brokers at 0725 GMT.

The following are some factors that may move German stocks on Thursday (share price indications at 0725 GMT):

DEUTSCHE BANK (DBKGn.DE)

Indicated 3.6 percent lower

Deutsche Bank will sack about one in seven traders, roughly 900 staff, in its single biggest cut to investment banking since the onset of the financial crisis, sources with knowledge of the plan told Reuters. [ID:nLJ576582]

Related news [DBKGn.DE-E]

BAYER (BAYG.DE)

Indicated 3.5 percent lower

Bayer's buoyant health care business will help the group ride out recession, and the same conglomerate structure makes it an unlikely bid target, a top Bayer executive said on Wednesday. [ID:nLJ117393] [ID:nN19335637] [ID:nN19325315]

Related news [BAYG.DE-E]

VOLKSWAGEN (VOWG.DE)

Indicated 2.6 percent lower

Audi is pressing ahead with investment to expand its line-up despite a slump in industry-wide sales expected to continue through 2009. "I have never seen so many uncertainties in the market, so to make a prediction of what 2009 will bring is in my mind totally impossible," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi's sales chief. [ID:nN19367557]