European Factors--Futures tick higer, U.S. data in focus

(Adds index futures, more companies; updates snapshot table)

LONDON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - European index futures pointed to a slightly
higher open on Friday after European stocks ended lower in the previous session,
with the focus on banking stocks and the release of U.S. non-farm payrolls
numbers.

At 0632 GMT, DJ Euro Stoxx 50 futures STXEc1 were up 0.1 percent, DAX
futures FDXc1 were up 0.3 percent and CAC futures FCEc1 were up 0.1 percent.

The FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares closed 1.4
percent lower on Thursday after data showed new orders at U.S. factories sank by
an unexpected 4 percent in August, the sharpest contraction since October 2006
in a sign the credit crisis was spreading into manufacturing.

U.S. stocks slid overnight, while Japan's Nikkei stock average .N225 fell
1.9 percent on Friday.

Investors awaited the fate of the $700 billion financial industry bill to
help rescue Wall Street. U.S. House majority leader Steny Hoyer said the bill
will be sent to the floor of the House on Friday for debate and then put to a
vote.

Earlier, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would not schedule the floor
debate until she thought there were enough votes in hand to pass it.

"There is a possibility that the forthcoming events could dictate the
direction of the economy in a significant way. Around the globe," said Andrew
Turnbull, senior sales manager at ODL Securities.

"Market participants will be watching and waiting for the U.S. congress to
make a firm decision on the rescue bill after the failure to reach an agreement
a week ago."

Energy stocks will be in focus after crude fell more than a dollar to below
$93 a barrel, its third consecutive day of losses, on scepticism that the U.S.
bailout package would be enough to prevent further oil demand falls.

Investors will keep an eye on Euro zone market services PMI data at 0800 GMT
and the U.S. employment report for September, due at 1230 GMT.

Economists in a Reuters survey forecast 100,000 jobs were lost in the month
compared with a loss of 84,000 jobs in August. The unemployment rate is seen at
6.1 percent, a repeat of the August figure.

----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 0624 GMT----------------------

LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S&P 500 .SPX 1,114.28 - 4.03 % -46.78
NIKKEI .N225 10,938.14 -1.94 % -216.62
MSCI ASIA EX-JP .MIASJ0000PUS 363.80 -1.00 % -3.66
EUR/USD EUR= 1.3863 0.34 % 0.0047
USD/JPY JPY= 105.28 -0.04 % -0.0400
10-YR US TSY YLD US10YT=RR 3.652 -- 0.03
10-YR BUND YLD EU10YT=RR 3.928 -- 0.00
SPOT GOLD XAU= $842.80 0.93 % $7.80
US CRUDE CLc1 $93.27 -0.74 % -0.70
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

* Economic, credit fears punish Wall St [ID:nN02300635]

* Nikkei touches 3-yr low, economy worry hits hard [ID:nT361121]

* Dollar poised for biggest weekly gain in 16 years [ID:nL3159237]

* Treasuries climb in safety bid [ID:nL3156092]

* Oil down more than $1 on financial turmoil [ID:nSP48362]

* Stocks fall, yen climbs ahead of US bailout vote [ID:nL3159163]

* Copper set for record weekly drop; dlr, growth drag [ID:nSP338190]

* Gold hit by dollar, platinum at near-3 year low [ID:nSP237722]

COMPANIES:

UBS AG (UBSN.VX)

The Swiss bank said it will reorganise its troubled investment bank, closing
its commodities business, excluding precious metals, and cutting a further 2,000
jobs. UBS will aim to maintain the strengths of its equities business in cash
distribution, derivatives and prime services and seek further efficiency gains.
[ID:nL3383251]

SOCIETE GENERALE (SOGN.PA)

France's Societe Generale has guaranteed to support and refinance the
mortgage loans of Rosbank (ROSB.MM), the Russian bank it bought this year, a
Rosbank executive said on Thursday. [ID:nL245009]

ROYAL DUTCH SHELL (RDSa.L)

Oil Major Royal Dutch Shell has proposed a $1.2 billion takeover of
Ukraine-focussed oil and gas explorer Regal Petroleum (RPT.L), the Daily
Telegraph reported.

CREDIT AGRICOLE (CAGR.PA)

Japan's Norinchukin Bank said it bought about 30 billion yen worth of shares
in Credit Agricole (CAGR.PA) and planned to form a business alliance with
France's largest retail bank. [ID:nT346766]

A spokesman for Norinchukin, which pools the investment funds of Japan's
agricultural and fishing cooperatives, said the bank bought the shares on the
market, giving it a stake of 0.5 percent in terms of voting rights.

ZURICH FINANCIAL SERVICES (ZURN.VX)

Zurich Financial Services is writing down $615 million worth of investments
related to Sigma Finance Corp, Lehman Brothers (LEHMQ.PK) and Washington Mutual
WM.N, the Swiss insurer said.

ROCHE (ROG.VX)

Roche remains in discussions with a group of 10 to 15 core relationship
banks regarding a loan for a potential new bid for U.S. biotechnology group
Genentech DNA.N, bankers close to the deal told Reuters.

A U.S. court on Thursday affirmed a jury verdict upholding Amgen Inc
(AMGN.O) patents on its blockbuster anemia drugs, effectively blocking Roche
Holding AG from selling a rival drug in the United States, Amgen said.

DANONE (DANO.PA)

Private equity firm CCMP Capital Asia has quit an auction for Danone's
Australian and New Zealand business, Frucor Beverages, which could be worth up
to A$800 million ($620 million), the Australian Financial Review reported on
Friday. [ID:nSYD352727].

UNILEVER (ULVR.L)

Investors in Unilever, (ULVR.L) are set to push the group to reinvent the
way it operates once Paul Polman, the incoming chief executive joins the
consumer products group, the Financial Times said.

HSBC (HSBA.L)

The Mexican unit of HSBC said on Thursday it issued $168 million worth of
peso-denominated bonds, despite a financial catastrophe on Wall Street that has
increased risk aversion around the world. [ID:nN02269868]

BAE SYSTEMS (BAE.L)

Sweden has opened its own investigation into claims that the UK defence
company bribed South African officials in the 5 billion sale of fighter jets to
the country, the Daily Mail said.