LONDON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening
down 36-38 points, or as much as 0.7 percent, on Thursday according to financial
bookmakers, following a late retreat from highs on Wall Street, as investors eye
news of the latest Bank of England rate decision due at 1200 GMT.

The UK blue-chip index closed 70.68 points higher on Wednesday at 5,107.89,
recouping all of Tuesday's 1.3 percent losses when the index fell to its lowest
closing level in a month.

Wall Street ended higher on Wednesday but saw its rally lose steam by the
close, Asian shares dipped on Thursday, and the dollar fell after the U.S.
Federal Reserve vowed to keep rates near zero for "an extended period" and said
the recovery of the world's biggest economy would be sluggish.

The Fed's pledge to stick to a very loose monetary policy [ID:nN04453484] was
expected and gave investors little new to trade on, although its cautious
economic outlook prompted light profit-taking.

The BoE is also expected to keep UK interest rates on hold on Thursday.

However, a change is likely to the BoE's quantitative easing programme, with
two-thirds of economists polled by Reuters forecasting at least a 25 billion
pounds increase to 200 billion pounds after the UK economy unexpectedly
contracted in the third quarter. [ID:nLU640629]

Ahead of the BoE announcement, investors will have September UK industrial
and manufacturing output numbers to assess, with economists expecting a 1.0
percent rebound on the month for both after shock slides in August which were
partly due to holiday shutdowns.

The European Central Bank council also delivers its interest rate verdict at
1245 GMT on Thursday, with economists expecting the ECB to hold eurozone rates
steady and make no changes to its special lending measures.

After the BoE and ECB announcements, investors' attention will switch to the
latest weekly U.S. initial jobless claims numbers for any indication of the
unemployment trend ahead of Friday's key October U.S. jobs report.

Investors will also have a welter of results from British and European
companies to digest today, with French bank BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) reporting
above-forecast third-quarter profits, while Swiss insurer Zurich Financial
(ZURN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) posted earnings a touch below expectations.

* GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia shares dip; dollar shaky, cautious Fed [ID:nHKG148885]

* US STOCKS-Wall St rally fades late after Fed; Cisco up [ID:nN0458750]

* Nikkei slips as exporters sold, eyes on jobs data [ID:nT23370]

* FOREX-Dollar, yen gain, profits taken in euro before ECB [ID:nT161640]

* TREASURIES-Supply worry dents prices; Fed keeps rates [ID:nN04595088]

* Oil dips under $80 after rising on U.S. crude draw [ID:nT445983]

* PRECIOUS-Gold eases but $1,100 still in sight [ID:nT148131]

* METALS-Shanghai copper lower despite dollar, oil [ID:nSHA138427]

UK stocks to watch on Thursday are:

UNILEVER (ULVR.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The Anglo-Dutch household goods giant posts third-quarter results.

VEDANTA RESOURCES (VED.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The Indian-focused miner delivers first-half results.

MAN GROUP (EMG.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The hedge fund manager reports first-half results.

RSA INSURANCE (RSA.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The insurer issues a trading update.

OLD MUTUAL (OML.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The insurer and asset manager issues a trading update.

SEGRO (SGRO.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The industrial landlord issues a trading update.

CABLE & WIRELESS (CW.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The telecoms carrier posts first-half results.

BANKS

John Kingman, the departing chief executive of UK Financial Investments
(UKFI) told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday that organisation had to
"walk a tightrope" when approving bonuses for top staff at Lloyds (LLOY.L: Quote, Profile, Research) and
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L: Quote, Profile, Research), the Financial Times said.

ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND (RBS.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

RBS chief executive, Stephen Hester has written to his employees stressing
that the majority of the bank's staff are in "an improved position" with regard
to bonuses compared to 2008, the Independent said.

QUINTAIN ESTATES (QED.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The British real estate developer is set to launch a 180 million pounds
($296.5 million) rights issue on Thursday, the Daily Telegraph reported.
[ID:nL4311648]

MITCHELLS & BUTLERS (MAB.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The pubs operator is seeking a new non-executive director who could
potentially take over as chairman in the next few months, The Times said.

EASYJET (EZJ.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The discount airlines reports Sept traffic numbers.

MILLENIUM & COPTHORNE (MLC.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The hotels operator delivers third-quarter results.

INVENSYS (ISYS.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The engineer posts first-half results.

TOMKINS (TOMK.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The automotive and industrial engineer issues a trading update.

SPECTRIS (SXS.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The engineer issues a trading update.

CHARTER (CHTR.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The engineer issues a second-quarter trading update.

SPIRENT COMMUNICATIONS (SPT.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The networking equipment firm issues a third-quarter trading update.

SHANKS GROUP (SKS.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The waste management firm reports first-half results.

WINCANTON (WIN.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The logistics firm reports first-half results.

CHARLES STANLEY (CAY.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The stockbroker delivers first-half results.

BTG (BGC.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The specialty pharmaceuticals group posts first-half results.

KOFAX (KFX.L: Quote, Profile, Research)

The software provider holds its annual general meeting.

(Reporting by Jon Hopkins)