ONDON, August 13 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen
opening up 12 to 18 points, or 0.4 percent on Thursday, according to financial
bookmakers, reflecting gains overnight on Wall Street and in Asia after the
Federal Reserve said it saw signs of a more stable economy.
The UK blue chip index closed 45.42 points or 1 percent higher on Wednesday
at 4,716.76, rallying following a similar-sized fall on Tuesday after positive
noises from the Bank of England in its latest inflation report and as Wall
Street gained on hopes for reassuring comments from the Fed.
After London's close, the Federal Reserve said the economy was leveling out,
and it left interest rates unchanged at the end of its two-day policy meeting.
The Fed also said it will extend the duration but not the size of a program
to buy long-term government debt, which is part of its effort to revive credit
and stimulate the economy. For details see [ID:nN1272730].
No major UK economic data is due for release on Thursday, so the main macro
focus will be on July U.S. retail numbers, due for release at 1230 GMT, with a
0.7 percent month-on-month rise forecast, after June's 0.6 percent increase.
July U.S. import and export inventories, the latest weekly jobless claims,
and June business inventories will also be released on Thursday.
* US STOCKS-Wall St rises after Fed says economy stabilizing [ID:nN12158890]
* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia stocks, Australia dollar up after Fed [ID:nHKG128384]
* Nikkei gains 0.7 pct on exporters, relief after Fed [ID:nT128274]
* FOREX-Dollar inches lower vs high-yielders after Fed [ID:nT128531]
* TREASURIES-Stabilise in Asia with Fed, await 30-yr auction [ID:nT130773]
* Oil near $71/bbl as recovery optimism offsets demand fears [ID:nSP523146]
* PRECIOUS-Gold rises to trade around $950, ETF stable [ID:nT133355]
* METALS-Shanghai, London copper jump after Fed comments [ID:nSHA129363]
UK stocks to watch on Thursday are:
PRUDENTIAL (PRU.L)
The life insurer reports first-half results.
THOMAS COOK GROUP (TCG.L)
The tour operator issues a trading update.
TOMKINS (TOMK.L)
The engineering group posts first-half results.
PSION (PON.L)
The mobile technology firm posts first-half results.
INVESTEC (INVP.L)
The financial services group holds its annual general meeting.
(Reporting by Jon Hopkins; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)
