Europe Factors-Shares set to inch up ahead of payrolls

(Adds futures, company news; update snapshot table)

PARIS, Sept 3 (Reuters) - European stocks were set to inch higher on Friday,
tracking advances in U.S. and Asian shares and adding to the week's tentative
rally, though investors remained cautious ahead of U.S. monthly jobs data
expected to show a fall in non-farm payrolls.

By 0615 GMT, futures for the STOXX Europe 50 STXEc1, for Germany's DAX
FDXc1 and for France's CAC FCEc1 were up 0.2-0.3 percent.

Data is expected to show U.S. nonfarm payrolls falling for a third straight
month in August, hit by the fading boost from census hiring, the reluctance by
companies to hire staff and the continued layoffs at cash-strapped state and
local governments. [ID:nN31235915]

The FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares, which ended down
0.08 percent on Thursday, has gained 2.8 percent so far this week, as a batch of
positive macroeconomic data from the United States and China helped ease fears
of a double-dip recession.

The Euro STOXX 50 .STOXX50E, the euro zone's blue chip index ended flat at
2,715.19 points on Thursday, staying above its 50-day moving average pierced in
the previous session and sitting just below a key resistance level at 2718, the
50 percent Fibonacci retracement from the July 20 to Aug. 5 rally.

The index's next resistance level is 2,737, the 50 percent retracement of a
fall from an April high to a May low.

----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT AT 0615 GMT----------------------

LAST PCT CHG NET CHG

S&P 500 .SPX 1,090.10 0.91 % 9.81

NIKKEI .N225 9,114.13 0.57 % 51.29

MSCI ASIA EX-JP .MIASJ0000PUS 491.95 0.49 % 2.39

EUR/USD EUR= 1.2817 -0.09 % -0.0011

USD/JPY JPY= 84.23 -0.06 % -0.0500

10-YR US TSY YLD US10YT=RR 2.621 -- -0.01

10-YR BUND YLD EU10YT=RR 2.281 -- 0.00

SPOT GOLD XAU= $1,250.55 -0.02 % -$0.19

US CRUDE CLc1 $74.65 -0.49 % -0.37

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Wall St rises on economic hopes ahead of payrolls [ID:nN02244581]

Asia stocks edge up ahead of key US jobs data [ID:nSGE682029]

Nikkei claws up 0.4 pct, caution before jobs data [ID:nTOE68201T]

FOREX-Risk currencies firm, await U.S. jobs report [ID:nTOE68201V]

Oil slips ahead of U.S. jobs data, Hurricane Earl [ID:nSGE68202D]

Copper steady, jobs report seen key [ID:nSGE68202E]

Gold steady as investors eye U.S. jobs data [ID:nTOE68201M]

COMPANY NEWS:

BP (BP.L)

The oil major said on Friday the cost of the oil spill response to date
amounts to approximately $8 billion. For details, see: [BP.L-LEN-RTRS]

HSBC (HSBA.L)

The bank has given the clearest warning that it could move abroad should the
commission on banking decide that big banking groups should be broken up.

Newspapers reported that Stuart Gulliver chairman of HSBC's (HSBA.L) Europe
and Middle East divisions told a banking conference that any decision to split
banks would have "significant implications" for where HSBC chooses to locate its
headquarters, despite its preference to remain based in the UK.

BAYER (BAYGn.DE)

A U.S. judge rejected Bayer's request to extend a stay that prevents Watson
Pharmaceuticals (WPI.N) from pursuing regulatory approval of a generic version
of Bayer's birth-control pill Yasmin. [ID:nWEN9368]

AIR FRANCE-KLM (AIRF.PA)

The airline is mulling the creation of a low-cost carrier to serve routes in
France, taking on its main domestic rival easyJet (EZJ.L), Les Echos reported.
An Air France spokeswoman declined to comment. For details, see:
[AIRF.PA-LEN-RTRS]

FRANCE TELECOM (FTE.PA)

The French telecoms company is weeks away from two deals aimed at expanding
its telecom business in emerging markets and shifting its TV content strategy at
home, Chief Executive Stephane Richard told Reuters. [ID:nLDE6811T5]

ROCHE (ROG.VX)

The Swiss drugmaker will review its business and cut costs to cope with
rising pressures on prices from healthcare reforms worldwide, it said on Friday.
For related news click on [ROG.VX-RTRS]

NOVARTIS (NOVN.VX)

An experimental Novartis drug can clear malaria infection in mice with a
single dose and scientists say it shows promise as a possible future treatment
for one of the world's major killer diseases. For details, see:
[NOVN.VX-LEN-RTRS]

CONTINENTAL AG (CONG.DE)

The German automotive parts supplier has sold 1 billion euros ($1.28
billion) in debt via its 7-year high-yield bond that pays a coupon of 7.5
percent, a source at the company told Reuters on Thursday. For details, see:
[ID:nWEA6708]

IPSEN (IPN.PA)

The drugmaker and Santhera Pharmaceuticals announced a licence agreement for
the development and commercialisation of fipamezole as a possible first
treatment for Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease for territories outside of North
America and Japan. [IPN.PA]

(Reporting by Blaise Robinson)